This wonderful CD includes some of my favourites like the solemn ‘Salve Regina’, the Communion Antiphon for Pentecost ‘Factus est Repente’ and the Requiem Mass.

I pressed ‘play’ and was immediately transported to my school days when we sang the Gregorian Requiem Mass at the funerals of nuns. The ‘In Paradisum’ in particular I always found particularly moving; the fact that I sang it most recently at the funeral of Doctor Mary Berry made it even more so.

The Monks have obviously done plenty of practice before making a CD with the performances as polished as you would expect from professional singers. But even more importantly there is also that wonderful kind of unconscious unity which comes with a group who play or sing the same type of music often together. The feeling of moving as one, observing all the niceties and scholarly points of the chant, is mesmerising. The rise and fall of the voices to the lines of the melodies with impeccably nuanced cadences is enviable and the text can be heard without fault.

For those who need a calm background for relaxation, this CD is ideal. For those who want to sing along as they do the ironing, you will be schooled in the correct manner. For those who just love it for its own sake, this CD is a treasure. Its special intensity is created by the voices of those who believe what they sing.

Review by Helen Nattrass

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One of the Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz was on BBC Breakfast earlier this year, chatting away with Bill Turnbull (who for once looked actually interested in the person he was interviewing!) about an album of Gregorian Chant they had released. By the end of May the album (called simply ‘Chant’) had made it into to the top 10 on the album chart, narrowly pipped for 8th place by Neil Diamond.

So, what could we possibly do but ask our resident expert musician and experienced chant singer, Helen, to have a listen? See above for her review.

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Just a quick note to let you know that we are now totally booked up for our trip to Minster Priory on Sunday - apologies to anyone who wants to go but hasn’t had a chance to get in touch yet. Rest assured that we will be almost certainly be arranging another trip at some point in the future, not to mention the other exciting, mind-broadening and fun events on offer this autumn. Keep checking this website for details.

And by the by, I may have mentioned it once or twice so far but in case you missed it: members get advance warning and priority booking for all events so, if you’re not already part of the Society and you’re keen not to miss out on future events, why not join up? Details on our membership page.

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