Gregorian Chants for Lent and Easter
Chant grégorien pour le temps de Paques
Choralschola der Wiener Hofburgkapelle

choralschola.at

1963
Vox Box SVBX 5206 (3 LP)

1966
Turnabout Vox TV 34070S (LP)

Jalons de la Musique Sacrée JMS 725 (LP)

1991
Vox Box CDX 5010 (2 CD)
Vox Box 1154852 (2 CD)

10-14. November, 1961
Wiener Konzerthaus - Studio

Gregorianik aus der Liturgie des Kirchenjahres
Gregorianische Gesänge zur Osterzeit


A

1 - Introit (Mode 1): Exurge   [3:41]
Sexagesima Sunday
2 - Tract (Mode 8): Commovisti Domine   [4:40]
Sexagesima Sunday
3 - Communion (Mode 5): Intellige clamorem meum   [1:19]
Lent: 2nd Sunday
4 - Offertory (Mode 8): Improperium exspectavit   [3:27]
Palm Sunday
5 - Gradual (Mode 5): Christus factus est   [3:01]
Maundy Thursday
6 - Offertory (Mode 2): Dextera Domini   [1:34]
Maundy Thursday
7 - Introit (Mode 4): Resurrexi   [4:20]
Easter Sunday
8 - Gradual (Mode 2): Haec dies   [3:35]
Easter Sunday


B

9 - Alleluia (Mode 7): Pascha nostrum   [2:25]
Easter Sunday
10 - Sequence (Mode 1): Victimae Paschali laudes   [2:02]
Easter Sunday
11 - Offertory (Mode 4): Terra termuit   [1:33]
Easter Sunday
12 - Communion (Mode 6): Pascha nostrum   [1:39]
Easter Sunday
13 - Antiphon (Mode 6): Regina caeli laetare   [0:56]
Easter Sunday, in praise of Mary
14 - Introit (Mode 7): Viri Galilaei   [3:26]
Ascension
15 - Offertory (Mode 1): Ascendit Deus   [1:58]
Ascension
16 - Introit (Mode 8): Spiritus Domini   [3:29]
Pentecost Sunday
17 - Sequence (Mode 1): Veni Sancti Spiritus   [2:58]
Pentecost Sunday
18 - Communion (Mode 7): Quotiescumque manducabitis   [1:19]
Corpus Christi Day




Choralschola der Wiener Hofburgkapelle
Josef Schabaßer

Gregorian Chants for Lent and Easter

There is much that is good about this recording. The scheme of progressing, with selected chants, from the Propers of the relevant Masses from Sexagesima Sunday (which comes just before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday) to Easter Sunday, of which the Proper is recorded in full, and concluding with chants from Ascension Day to the Feast of Corpus Christi, is excellent. The singing of the men of the Hofburgkapelle – for the boys, regrettably, take no part – is very good in point of tone and phrasing, with the exception that the choirmaster, who follows the Solesmes edition, disturbs the rhythmic flow of the music by making a slight pause at quarter bars. In the Introit for Sexagesima Sunday, for example, at the words 'exsurge Domine, adjuva nos, et libera nos' at the quarter-bars marked at the commas, pauses are made as if to indicate the punctuation, whereas these so called bars are concerned with rhythmic units. At the most, only a catch-breath should be used after a half-bar following a doubled-note, and none at a quarter-bar.

The singers show themselves perfectly capable of negotiating long phrases such as occur in the splendid Gradual 'Haec dies' for Easter Sunday and in these, indeed, the quarter-bars are fortunately sometimes ignored. The joyful chants need much brighter tone than they are given. For example, in the Alleluia and verse, 'Ascendit Deus in jubilatione, et Dominus in voce tubae' on Ascension Day, there is hardly a trace of jubilation in the tone. The short version of the Marian antiphon Regina each is sung, and here again there is little joy. The singers do well in the chants that do not call for joyful and light tone and are at all times musicianly. It would have been wise to use the boys to give variety of tone, but perhaps this is not the custom at the Hofburgkapelle.

Now that plainsong is due to become a rarity, for the Latin Mass will soon only be heard in some monasteries and cathedrals, these criticisms must not be allowed to count too much. The recording, in stereo and mono, is very good and some of the material on the disc is not available in either Beuron or Solesmes recordings. I have not seen the sleeve, but no doubt the words of the chants – all in the Roman Missal – will be given, though possessors of the Liber Usualis will get the most enjoyment out of the singing.

A. R.
Gramophone, March, 1967

Gregorian Chants
(3 LP), Vox Box, 1963
Offertories, Alleluias, Graduals, Hymns, Antiphons, Introits, Communions & Sequences
for the CHRISTMAS Season & EASTER





Gregorian Chants for all Seasons (2 CD), Vox Box, 1991-92
CHRISTMAS, EASTER









Canto Gregoriano (4 CD), DSN, 1992
CHRISTMAS, EASTER