Gregorian Chant was among the very first music genres in Europe. It developed as a form of "plain chant" in the early middle ages, and was mainly used for church music. There were chants for each part of the religious service, the mass. Also, chants were used throughout the day by monks in monasteries and nuns in convents, with certain chants for certain hours of the day. In fact, Gregorian Chant is still used in these ways in some religious communites and churches.
Today, there is also a modern boys choir in South London that sings chants, among other songs, as entertainment. They go on singing tours, appear on TV, and make recordings (they are signed under EMI). This musical group is known as Libera. The boys, ages 7 to 16, are trained in singing harmonies and often perform inspirational and religious music. There are about 40 boys, led by their Director Robert Prizeman. In addition to concerts, they sing regularly in church services along with a full choir at Saint Phillips parish, in London. Here is their version of Kyrie Eleison, a Gregorian chant:
Today, there is also a modern boys choir in South London that sings chants, among other songs, as entertainment. They go on singing tours, appear on TV, and make recordings (they are signed under EMI). This musical group is known as Libera. The boys, ages 7 to 16, are trained in singing harmonies and often perform inspirational and religious music. There are about 40 boys, led by their Director Robert Prizeman. In addition to concerts, they sing regularly in church services along with a full choir at Saint Phillips parish, in London. Here is their version of Kyrie Eleison, a Gregorian chant:
Although most Gregorian chants are in Latin, this one is in Greek; the words are "Kyrie eleison, Christe
eleison" and mean "Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy." The version by Libera used just the first phrase.
Here is one-- with a single singer-- that uses both, created by Antoine Daniel Mass, and available through
Corpus Christi Watershed.
eleison" and mean "Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy." The version by Libera used just the first phrase.
Here is one-- with a single singer-- that uses both, created by Antoine Daniel Mass, and available through
Corpus Christi Watershed.
The melody is different here, and you can see the notation that was used for these chants-- there is a four-line staff, with square notes. This was a forerunner to our current staff of five lines, with round notes.
Now, you might think that Gregorian Chant and hip-hop would be strange bedfellows . . . but I came across an experimental music video that combined these, and really, it sounds like they actually fit together . . .
So here is the same melody as above, but with the addition of a beat track; this was created by a YouTuber who calls himself "freshaintdead."
So here is the same melody as above, but with the addition of a beat track; this was created by a YouTuber who calls himself "freshaintdead."
What do you think?
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