Notes and Editorial Reviews
St. Benoit du Lac is a Benedictine monastery in Southeastern
Quebec. It was founded in 1912 by monks from the French abbey
of Saint Wandrile, which is part of the Saint Pierre de Solesmes
congregation. The monks sing Gregorian chant in the tradition
of Solesmes and the monks use their singing, their teaching
and their recordings to continue this tradition.
Here we have a recording made originally in 1996. Interestingly,
though the monastic community dates from 1912 the buildings
are more recent. The church was only built a few years before
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this recording.
The title of the disc is Pax and peace seems to be the
general theme of the texts. It open with the antiphon In
viam pacis and continues with a selection of introits whose
theme is peace, ranging from Give peace, o Lord, to the
familiar Christmas passage about the Prince of Peace.
The disc is structured very roughly around the mass, but with
individual elements multiplied up so a group of introits are
followed by the Gloria; then three graduals and then three alleluias,
Agnus Dei and communion; with finally a selection of hymns and
responses. The CD booklet sets out a short but illuminating
discussion about how the individual items fit into the theological
journey which the monks have constructed. And it is in theological
terms rather than purely musical ones that this disc should
be seen. The chant here is not sung as a concert, but to evoke
an act of worship with the music being purely a vehicle for
the theological expression of the text.
Rather frustratingly the CD booklet includes little detailed
information about when exactly in the church year individual
items would be sung. And there are no printed texts, which makes
following the theological argument difficult unless one happens
to possess a missal or a gradual.
And what of the singing? Well, it is certainly characterful.
The monks choir does not sound exceptionally large and the solo
voices are distinctive and individually expressive. This is
a sincere reflection of the music of a community, rather than
new age background music.
You will find this music better sung elsewhere, but what this
disc does convey is a reflection of a community who sing this
music every day.
-- Robert Hugill, MusicWeb International Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
In viam by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: Medieval
2.
Da pacem, Domine by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: Medieval
3.
Loquebar Domini de testimoniis tuis by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: 20th Century
4.
Lux fulgebit by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: Medieval
5.
Gloria in excelsis Deo by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: Medieval
6.
Benedictus Dominus by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
7.
Pacificus vocabitur by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: Medieval
8.
Laetatus sum by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1637
9.
Post dies octo, alleluia mode 8 by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: Medieval
Written: Europe
10.
Qui posuit IV by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
11.
Virga Jesse by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: Medieval
12.
Agnus Dei by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: Medieval
13.
Communio: Beati Mundo Corde by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: Medieval
14.
Vita sanctorum by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
15.
Pacem VI by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
16.
Cum esset sero by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
17.
Tua est potentia by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: Medieval
18.
Jesu rex II by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
19.
Benedictus by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
Period: Medieval
Written: Europe
20.
lustorum animae by Anonymous
Orchestra/Ensemble:
St. Benoit du Lac Benedictine Monks Chorus
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