GREGORIAN CHANT: EARLY INTERPRETERS (2 CDS)

Most early recordings of Gregorian Chant, with the exception of those from Solesmes, have fallen into total obscurity. Now, Parnassus resurrects more than 2 ½ hours of recordings made from 1928 to 1936 at a variety of locations throughout Europe. Only two of these items have ever been previously available on LP, and none on CD.

To make the anthology as useful and informative as possible, compiler Jerome F. Weber has provided a lengthy discussion of the styles and backgrounds of all of the performing choirs, along with complete texts and translations of the Chants. The transfers from scarce 78s have been done by the legendary engineer Richard Burns, co-inventor of the Packburn Transient Noise Suppressor.

The result is a highly listenable, fascinating compilation that will capture the interest of any Chant lover.

Disc 1 -
1 Credo Iv, Lu 71 - Chor of Benedictine College of Sant' Anselmo, Rome/Beatus Reiser
2 Offr: Terra Tremuit w. Verse Et Factus Est [Lu 781A] Ott 55 - Chor of Benedictine College of Sant' Anselmo, Rome/Beatus Reiser
3 Sanctus I, Lu 18A - Chor of Benedictine College of Sant' Anselmo, Rome/Beatus Reiser
4 Agnus Dei I, Lu 18B - Chor of Benedictine College of Sant' Anselmo, Rome/Beatus Reiser
5 Preface of the Blessed Virgin, Missale Romanum - White Fathers of St. Irmenin, Trier
6 Sanctus X, Lu 45A - White Fathers of St. Irmenin, Trier
7 Agnus Dei X, Lu 45B - White Fathers of St. Irmenin, Trier
8 Comm: Gloriosa, Lu 1319A - White Fathers of St. Irmenin, Trier
9 Ite Ix, Lu 43A - White Fathers of St. Irmenin, Trier
10 Anti: Alma Redemptoris, Lu 273 - White Fathers of St. Irmenin, Trier
11 Anti: Regina Caeli, Lu 275 - White Fathers of St. Irmenin, Trier
12 Anti: Ave Regina Caelorum, Lu 274 - White Fathers of St. Irmenin, Trier
13 Anti: Salve Regina., Lu 279 - White Fathers of St. Irmenin, Trier
14 Rorate Caeli, Lu 1868B - White Fathers of St. Irmenin, Trier
15 Attende Domine, Lu 1872B - White Fathers of St. Irmenin, Trier
16 Alle: Confitemini, Lu 759 - Franciscan Fathers of Venray, Holland/Eliseus Bruning, Ofm
17 Anti: Alleluia, Lu 761A - Franciscan Fathers of Venray, Holland/Eliseus Bruning, Ofm
18 Anti: Vespere Autem, Lu 761B - Franciscan Fathers of Venray, Holland/Eliseus Bruning, Ofm
19 Grad: Haec Dies, Lu 778B - Franciscan Fathers of Venray, Holland/Eliseus Bruning, Ofm
20 Alle: Without Verse, Lu 779 - Franciscan Fathers of Venray, Holland/Eliseus Bruning, Ofm
21 Sequ: Victimae Paschali, Lu 780 - Franciscan Fathers of Venray, Holland/Eliseus Bruning, Ofm
22 Intr: Dominus Dixit, Lu 392 - Franciscan Fathers of Venray, Holland/Eliseus Bruning, Ofm
23 Comm: In Splendoribus, Lu 395A - Franciscan Fathers of Venray, Holland/Eliseus Bruning, Ofm
24 Intr: Puer Natus Est, Lu 408 - Franciscan Fathers of Venray, Holland/Eliseus Bruning, Ofm
25 Anti: Asperges Me, Lu 11 - Monks of St. Lawrence Abbey, Ampleforth/J. Bernard McElligott, Osb
26 Kyrie Ix, Lu 40B - Monks of St. Lawrence Abbey, Ampleforth/J. Bernard McElligott, Osb
27 Sanctus Ix, Lu 42A - Monks of St. Lawrence Abbey, Ampleforth/J. Bernard McElligott, Osb
28 Anti: Salve Regina., Lu 279 - Monks of St. Lawrence Abbey, Ampleforth/J. Bernard McElligott, Osb
29 Alle. Veni Sancte, Lu 880A - Monks of St. Lawrence Abbey, Ampleforth/J. Bernard McElligott, Osb
30 Sequ: Veni Sancte Spiritus, Lu 880B - Monks of St. Lawrence Abbey, Ampleforth/J. Bernard McElligott, Osb
31 Anti: Miserere Mihi and PS. 133, Lu 264 - Monks of St. Lawrence Abbey, Ampleforth/J. Bernard McElligott, Osb
32 Hymn: Te Lucis Ante, 266C - Monks of St. Lawrence Abbey, Ampleforth/J. Bernard McElligott, Osb
33 Anti: Ave Regina Caelorum., Lu 278A - Monks of St. Lawrence Abbey, Ampleforth/J. Bernard McElligott, Osb
34 Hymn: O Salutaris Hostia, Lu 940Z - Monks of St. Lawrence Abbey, Ampleforth/J. Bernard McElligott, Osb
35 Anti: Hosanna, Lu 578B - Schola Cantorum of Paris/Amedee Gastoue
36 Comm: Passer Invenit, Lu 556A - Schola Cantorum of Paris/Amedee Gastoue
37 Alle. Pascha Nostrum, Lu 779 - Schola Cantorum of Paris/Amedee Gastoue
38 Grad: Misit Dominus Verbum, Lu 485 - Berlin State Academy Chor/Hermann Halbig
39 Grad: Adjuvabit, Lu 1221 - Les Paraphonistes de St-Jean-Des-Matines/Guillaume de Van/Agop Agopian
40 Alle: Pascha Nostrum/Epulemur, Lu 779 - Les Paraphonistes de St-Jean-Des-Matines/Guillaume de Van/Agop Agopian
41 Offr: Ave Maria., Lu 1318B - Nuns of St. Ehrentraud Abbey, Nonnberg, Salzburg
42 Anti: Salve Regina., Lu 279 - Nuns of St. Ehrentraud Abbey, Nonnberg, Salzburg
- Disc 2 -
1 Kyrie X, Lu 43C - Rev. Vincent C. Donovan, O.P., Celbrant/Chor of the Pius X School of Music/Justine Bayard.
2 Gloria Ix, Lu 40C - Rev. Vincent C. Donovan, O.P., Celbrant/Chor of the Pius X School of Music/Justine Bayard.
3 Credo I, Lu 64 - Rev. Vincent C. Donovan, O.P., Celbrant/Chor of the Pius X School of Music/Justine Bayard.
4 Common Preface, Missale Romanum - Rev. Vincent C. Donovan, O.P., Celbrant/Chor of the Pius X School of Music/Justine Bayard.
5 Sanctus Ix, Lu 42A - Rev. Vincent C. Donovan, O.P., Celbrant/Chor of the Pius X School of Music/Justine Bayard.
6 Pater Noster and Versicles, Missale Romanum - Rev. Vincent C. Donovan, O.P., Celbrant/Chor of the Pius X School of Music/Justine Bayard.
7 Agnus Dei Ix, Lu 42B - Rev. Vincent C. Donovan, O.P., Celbrant/Chor of the Pius X School of Music/Justine Bayard.
8 Ite Ix, Lu 43A - Rev. Vincent C. Donovan, O.P., Celbrant/Chor of the Pius X School of Music/Justine Bayard.
9 Kyrie Ad Lib Iv, Lu 76B - Escolania and Monks of Montserrat/David Pujol, Osb
10 Grad: Convertere, Lu 1007 - Escolania and Monks of Montserrat/David Pujol, Osb
11 Intr: Exsurge Quare, Lu 504C - Monks of St. Martin Archabbey, Beuron/Pius Bihlmeyer, Osb
12 Grad: Haec Dies, Lu 778B - Monks of St. Martin Archabbey, Beuron/Pius Bihlmeyer, Osb
13 Comm: Pascha Nostrum., Lu 781B - Monks of St. Martin Archabbey, Beuron/Pius Bihlmeyer, Osb
14 Alle. Pascha Nostrum, Lu 780 - Monks of St. Martin Archabbey, Beuron/Pius Bihlmeyer, Osb
15 Sequ: Victimae Paschali, Lu 780 - Monks of St. Martin Archabbey, Beuron/Pius Bihlmeyer, Osb
16 Alle. Vir Dei, [GR 870] Old Graduale - Monks of Maria Laach Abbey/Anselm Ross, Osb/Urbanus Bomm, Osb
17 Sequ: Laeta Dies, [GR 871] Old Graduale - Monks of Maria Laach Abbey/Anselm Ross, Osb/Urbanus Bomm, Osb
18 Alle. Venite Ad Me, Lu 1726B - Seminary Chor of the Society of the Divine Word of Steyl, Modling/Stanislaus Marusczyk, SVD
19 Offr: Justorum Animae, Lu 1172 - Seminary Chor of the Society of the Divine Word of Steyl, Modling/Stanislaus Marusczyk, SVD
20 Comm: Beati Mundo Corde, Lu 1727 - Seminary Chor of the Society of the Divine Word of Steyl, Modling/Stanislaus Marusczyk, SVD
21 Kyrie Viii, Lu 37B - Dortmund Municipal Conservatory Chor/Romuald Peffer, Osb
22 Gloria Viii, Lu 37C - Dortmund Municipal Conservatory Chor/Romuald Peffer, Osb
23 Credo III, Lu 68 - Dortmund Municipal Conservatory Chor/Romuald Peffer, Osb
24 Sanctus Viii, Lu 38 - Dortmund Municipal Conservatory Chor/Romuald Peffer, Osb
25 Agnus Dei Viii, Lu 39A - Dortmund Municipal Conservatory Chor/Romuald Peffer, Osb
26 Comm: Quinque Prudentes., Lu 1228B - Dortmund Municipal Conservatory Chor/Romuald Peffer, Osb
27 Alle. Assumpta Est, Lu 1603 - Dortmund Municipal Conservatory Chor/Romuald Peffer, Osb
28 Alle. Post Dies Octo, Lu 810 - Paderborn Cathedral Choir Boys/Gustav Schauerte/Paul Hebestreit
29 Alle. Adorabo, Lu 1251B - Paderborn Cathedral Choir Boys/Gustav Schauerte/Paul Hebestreit
30 Anti: Alma Redemptoris., Lu 277 - Paderborn Cathedral Choir Boys/Gustav Schauerte/Paul Hebestreit
31 Anti: Ave Regina Caelorum., Lu 278A - Paderborn Cathedral Choir Boys/Gustav Schauerte/Paul Hebestreit
32 Anti: Regina Caeli., Lu 278B - Paderborn Cathedral Choir Boys/Gustav Schauerte/Paul Hebestreit
33 Anti: Salve Regina., Lu 279 - Paderborn Cathedral Choir Boys/Gustav Schauerte/Paul Hebestreit