Gloriae Die Cantores Schola
These prayers are beautifully sung by both male and female choirs of the Gloriae Die Cantores Schola.
They are sung mostly in the florid chant of the Proper of the Mass; although the melismas are at times a little overpowering and seem somewhat unnecessarily extended. The longer prayer chants of tracks 15, 16 and 17 are in plainer chant. The choirs are placed so that the stereophonic effect used by musicians of the mid to late 16th century and onwards is obvious.
To the purist, the female choir, whilst it consists of beautiful voices, does not have the very pure, bell-like sound of the boy soprano choirs always used before the 16th century and which have been brought to us in other recordings of Gregorian Chant.
The Latin of these prayers is very clearly enunciated by both male and female sections of the choir and very easy to follow. The voices are blended very satisfyingly to the ear.
The booklet included in the package gives the Latin and an English translation of the Latin used and a very short précis of the reason for the prayer and is a useful resource while listening.
To those people who believe in the beneficent effects of angels in our very commonplace world, these prayers would be of great comfort. As prayers in praise of God, they are of great value.
A very good buy!
Lyn Housen
