Search - Gregorian Chant, Peter Abelard, Konrad Ruhland :: Gloria In Excelsis Deo: Chant, Hymns And Sequences (National Public Radio Milestones Of The Millennium)

This is a genuinely useful introduction to chant. The carefully prepared, scholarly performances are still alive with feeling and meaning. The recordings, while filled with churchly resonance, are so clear you could take dictation from them. The many selections are highly varied and programmed for contrast, so that, contrary to most people's expectations, this disc will not put you to sleep. The program notes sketch briefly an interesting history of the music, useful for the general listener but not insulting to the specialist. All that's missing is the texts and translations, a strange omission that could spoil the disc for many potential listeners. --Leslie Gerber