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Showing posts with the label old Roman chant

More ancient chant

I thought I had better leave it a day or so before posting yet another piece of ancient chant. Today we have Alleluia Dies Sanctificatus , sung by the Ensemble Organum , directed by Marcel Peres. Here is the text and translation: Alleluia Dies sanctificatus illuxit nobis venite gentes, et adorate Dominum qui hodie descendit lux magna super terram. Alleluia Alleluia The sanctified day has shone upon us: come, peoples and adore the Lord who today came down, the great light upon the earth. Alleluia This is billed as chant from the particular Churches of Rome in the 7th century. The beginning of the chant give the immediate impression of something from the middle East. As the verse continues, there is an unmistakeably Roman character stamped upon it. It is fascinating to think that perhaps this is something like the music that St Gregory the Great promoted as the particular liturgical music of the Roman Church. Without wishing to denigrate in any way the achievement of Solesm...
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