Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This is a pleasant enough recording of an hour and a quarter's worth of Gregorian Chant and any reader looking for a budget introduction may find this worth investigation. However there are some caveats. I use the Latin word for a reason: all the singing on this CD is in Latin and there is no translation in the CD booklet. What we do get is a very technical introduction by Keith Anderson entitled Gregorian Chant From The Proper Of The Mass and a shorter article on Music And Meditation by Dharmachari Jñanagarbha that demands a spiritual health warning. The Judaeo-Christian tradition of meditation goes back to the Psalms but inevitably meditation was used as an aid to focus on someone or something outside of oneself such as the Law of the Lord. In this essay we are encouraged to look in on ourselves. Space does not permit a deeper discussion so I repeat my warning (in English this time): Beware. What of the music? It is Gregorian Chant and conducted by Alberto Turco sings it. And if you have the Naxos CD 'Adorate Deum' you already own this recording, as it is a reissue in a New Age cover.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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