G R E G O R I A N C H A N T I N T R O D U C T I O N
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From St. Gall 359, a 10th century Cantatorium.
Latin: Christus factus est pro nobis obediens usque ad mortem.
Translation: Christ became obedient for us unto death.
| What you're looking at is what a monk
in Europe looked at a thousand years ago to sing what we now call Gregorian chant. What
you are hearing is such a chant (not the one pictured) reproduced as a midi sequence. A lot is missing in the midi sequence: the timbre of multiple voices, the ambient acoustic of soaring stone walls, twilight refracted through stained glass, incense wafting in the cold air. Astonishingly, a lot is still present in the midi sequence. For that we have Richard Lee to thank. Lee, a philosopher by trade, is also a performer of early music, both instrumentalist and singer. Somewhere along that busy way, he found time and inspiration to transfer several dozen Gregorian chants to midi sequences. Professor Lee intended the sequences as a useful learning tool for those undertaking to sing the chants, and no doubt they are. When we recently stumbled across his site, we were immediately struck by the ethereal sounds drifting unexpectedly out of our computer. He kindly gave us permission to use the sequences, which we have united with seven new works by one of our favorite artists, Jean-Marie Putnam Jonré, whom we have featured several times in the past in these pages. You can find out much more about Richard Lee, the chants, and the sequences by going to his site here. Meanwhile, for the delight of your ears and eyes, we have this: Chant No. 1
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Magellan's Log Copyright ©
2001 Texas Chapbook Press
www.texaschapbookpress.com
