Celebrating Early Music and Early Music Performance

And Another Thing........

This page is here for no reason whatsoever; except perhaps for me to wonder a while on the ‘Grand Scheme of Things’ and conceivably pass the odd comment-or-two!

Gregorian Chants by the Sea

This is the title of a double CD I recently bought with a view to add it to the EMR play list.  I had set great store by the sleeve notes - for instance, the recording had been awarded the ‘Converted Grand Prix Du Disque Award in France’ – Allegedly, the equivalent of the Grammy Award in the USA!  It spoke of 4^th and 5^th Century chants, and references to Byzantine Roman, Gallican and Mozarabic influences abounded.  It sounded absolutely charming; as what could be better than stunning religious music recorded on a real monestery by the coast - Having been awarded a prestigeous 'Gong' to boot?

Imagine my surprise when I listened to it for the first time.  Sure enough, there were the obligatory monks chanting purposefully away – but what completely took me by surprise, was the super-imposed noises of waves beating time and time again on what I guess is a supposed to be a shingle beach.  This went on and on and on – every track from start to finish had this blasted intrusion completely dominating the music.  Talk about taking things literally!

Never mind, the disks have made a wonderful pair of coffee mug coasters and the ‘Converted Grand Prix Du Disque Award in France’ no longer fills me with awe and amazement!