Christmas Chants
Recorded in 1958 at the Spanish Abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos, this historic recording has become a minor classic, a 25-track collection of Gregorian chants that were the first to be recorded at the Castilian monastery. Part of the import of these somewhat crude recordings is their authenticity; although the traditional Gregorian chant had been corrupted by the mid-19th century, these performances were the result of exhaustive scholarship and research, including a restoration of the Mozarabic chant, an archaic style of Spanish singing. Recorded at the peak of the choir's powers--over 80 voices strong--these chants that glorify the start of the liturgic year are, even in mono, moving and inspirational examples of religious faith expressed in sound.--James Rotondi