Tim (our Chair) tells us that ‘101′ is how colleges in America denote a course that covers the absolute basics of a subject. A direct English translation would be ‘everything you ever wanted to know about chant but were afraid to ask’! A number of you have mentioned that you would welcome just such a session on Chant so we thought that it would be an excellent idea to organise one in time for our workshop in November.

This event will last for two hours on the morning of Saturday 18th October and will be led by Helen. The session will start at the very beginning and will answer questions such as ‘why are all the notes square?’, ‘how do I know which note to sing?’ and ‘What’s that squiggly thing?’ We will also practice some simple Gregorian ‘classics’ so that by the end of the two hours anyone attending will be able to confidently tackle psalms or a quick Salve Regina with ease.

Time and venue will be confirmed within the next few weeks.

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The weather was not at its best, but our visit to the Benedictine Community at Minster Priory was a most engaging and enjoyable afternoon. Thirty of us plus the sisters from the Community and a few of their guests rehearsed and sang the second Vespers of the day. Being a Sunday there were four psalms to rehearse, plus all the other bits concluding with the solemn Salve Regina.

At the suggestion of Mother Nicola, the Prioress, we divided into two groups so that those less confident could go over ‘the basics’ in more detail with our very own Helen Nattrass. At the same time, Mother Nicola and Sister Mary Stephen made sure that the ‘more-confident’ group tackled the Magnificat and the solemn Salve. Between the two rehearsals, we had a good break with afternoon tea, chatting to the nuns who joined us. Mother Nicola also led a tour of the Priory buildings recounting the history of the establishment.

Overall it was a great afternoon and a wonderful opportunity to be part of the Community’s worship. Mother Nicola and all the sisters were as delighted to have us as we were to be there so, who knows, it may become an annual fixture!

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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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