I have my uncle Terry to thank for introducing me to these guys. I mentioned that I like plainchant. He loaned me a CD of this exact recording. And I loved it. Still do.
I’ve now got a fair few CDs by this French combo’. I believe they’re based out of Moissac, the cloisters of which are the picture on the cover. Moissac is mentioned, and indeed viewed, in Kenneth Clark’s superb Civilisation.
I’m not Christian. Nor even religious. But I do love this music. I’m not a fan of religious Oratorios. Religious opera? (Indeed, any Opera*) Eugh!
* The only opera I’ve found palatable is the odd piece (Nessun Dorma, a few bits of Wagner), or the Light Operas of Gilbert & Sullivan. And I’ve only been won over to the latter, I think, thanks to Mike Leigh’s superb Topsy Turvy.
The lyrics are all in Latin, and none too catchy. All those monotonous ‘Allelujas’! But since it’s all nonsense, anyway, I’m only really here for the melodies, harmonies, and the overall calming and contemplative vibes.
I need to revisit as much of the Ensemble Organum that I have, and get to know it all a bit better, methinks. At present I think this is my favourite of the discs I own. Is it partly on account of the timber of an all male choir?
Certainly there’s a marked difference between the unison anonymity of this sort of vocal music, as compared with the ‘stars vs chorus’ of opera, which to my mind is like a religious analogue of the modern day musical. Another genre I’m mostly averse to.