www.chanttracks.com: Full Gregorian Missal Proper mp3s
  • mjcurtis
    Posts: 62
    Hi all. I recorded the complete Proper from the Gregorian Missal (475 chants, 25+ hours) that can be downloaded at http://www.ucombo.com/mjcurtis/store. This started as a regional project for the diocese of La Crosse, WI to assist scholas/choirs in learning chant notation and promote its use in the Liturgy. I decided to make it available to the public on the internet for purchase. They are by no means professional quality, but are accurate and aimed to help those who may struggle learning chant notation. Each chant is sung at the written pitch.

    This project took over 1000 hours to complete, and I priced the chants as low as possible to at least minimally compensate me for my work. Prices are .75 per chant, 2.99 per mass, or 49.99 for the entire collection (only .10 per chant). My goal is not to profit, so I am willing to bargain if these rates are too high.

    My chant interpretation very closely follows the traditional Solemn method. Obviously, there are limitations when singing them by yourself. I did not lengthen the vertical episema of the salicus. I also breathed at every quarter and half bar, which are often carried through depending on the context. The flow is a little quicker than a full schola for breathing purposes.

    I'm working on a website to promote the store at www.chanttracks.com. You can find a bio of me there. The store is brand new and may contain mistakes and glitches, so I would love any feedback or criticism. If you have requests of chants to record or existing ones at a different pitch, I am happy to record just about anything. Future projects include recording the Ordinary from the Gregorian Missal and a Christmas album of polyphony.

    I hope this is interesting and helpful to you chanters out there. God bless.
    Matt
  • mjcurtis
    Posts: 62
    Oh, I forgot to mention that I recorded all the Psalm verses with the Communion Antiphons from the new book "Communio."
  • miacoyne
    Posts: 1,805
    Is there any sample recordings to hear in your web? Thanks.
  • mjcurtis
    Posts: 62
    Yes, you can hear 10% of each track starting at the beginning. Go to http://www.ucombo.com/mjcurtis/store and there is an icon next to the track title that looks like a tape. Click that and it should play the sample.
  • Jeffrey TuckerJeffrey Tucker
    Posts: 3,624
    The voice is very clear and excellent for teaching. Thank you!
  • Jeffrey TuckerJeffrey Tucker
    Posts: 3,624
    Wow, this is really creative. I think that the artist contacted us last year about pre-purchasing these so we could make them all free, but it wasn't possible. This is a great solution. all success!
  • Jeffrey TuckerJeffrey Tucker
    Posts: 3,624
    here is a direct link
  • Aristotle EsguerraAristotle Esguerra
    Posts: 1,185
    If the samples are any indication, these recordings will be a valuable learning tool. Excellent work!
  • miacoyne
    Posts: 1,805
    Thanks, mjcurtis. it's a lot of work you did. This will come handy for my schola, since I don't have much skills of modern technology. And your singing voice is very nice.
  • mjcurtis
    Posts: 62
    Someone suggested to me that I put everything in a big zip file so the downloader doesn't have to download 500 separate files and organize them himself or herself. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to do that? I think I have a rough idea, but would love some guidance, although this may not be the right forum for that. :)
    Matt
  • Jeffrey TuckerJeffrey Tucker
    Posts: 3,624
    sure, just zip them up and deliver them. I don't really see the problem.
  • Jeffrey TuckerJeffrey Tucker
    Posts: 3,624
    You can make it a direct link
  • Brian Kiernan
    Posts: 24
    Beautifully done. Having recorded 475 chants -- over twenty-five hours worth -- I suggest you take a rest.
    Then, when you are ready. would you be interested in chanting through the Parish Book of Chant. I believe there will be an even larger demand for those recordings.
  • miacoyne
    Posts: 1,805
    I second on that idea. PBC recording
  • gregpgregp
    Posts: 632
    Why don't we all do something like that while at the Colloquium? Set aside an hour or two to sing hymns from the PBC?
  • janetgorbitzjanetgorbitz
    Posts: 964
    great idea, gregp
  • a1437053a1437053
    Posts: 198
    A very satisfied customer.

    The entire collection is over 1 GB in size! Very clear and didactic.

    I would like less echo, but other than that slight personal preference, I find this project EXCELLENT!
  • mjcurtis
    Posts: 62
    Jeffrey. How can I make it a direct link? The zipped file I created is 15.5 MB, which is too big to attach to an email.

    Everyone. Thanks for the kind feedback and great suggestions. The hard thing is that there are so many things to record! My next project is the Ordinary from the Gregorian Missal. I won't have opportunity to record much more before the summer with my school schedule. One thing that I wanted to mention is that I have Countertenor abilities and am able to record for children's groups and women's groups if desired. Range limitations don't come into play until around F5, so I am very flexible. Whatever I complete I will add to the "Complete Gregorian Chant Collection" album at 49.99 for no extra charge and notify those who already purchased the album.
  • Jeffrey TuckerJeffrey Tucker
    Posts: 3,624
    Just make the zip a direct download with a log in. Send the code via email.
  • Jeffrey TuckerJeffrey Tucker
    Posts: 3,624
    Greg, your point about setting aside an hour at the colloq has come up for several year. There never seems to be an hour!
  • mjcurtis
    Posts: 62
    I finally have a better solution to downloading the Complete Gregorian Chant Collection. I am still trying to offer just 1 download, but have been able to split everything into 4 ZIP files. Each is around 500MB, so it will take a long time to download. Anyone who already purchased everything for 49.99 can email me at mjcurtis@viterbo.edu for the links. Anyone now interested in buying with the easier download solution will be emailed within 1 day with the 4 download links.
  • Jeffrey TuckerJeffrey Tucker
    Posts: 3,624
    great! thank you
  • Michael O'Connor
    Posts: 1,637
    BTW just curious as to why no interpretation of the salicus in the chants I downloaded?
  • Jeffrey TuckerJeffrey Tucker
    Posts: 3,624
    I think he wanted to avoid that sticky issue! I seem to recall this from correspondence.
  • Ralph BednarzRalph Bednarz
    Posts: 489
    Are there other sites that present mp3's or audiuo file in organized through the calandar year other than chritus rex. i thought they were some new sites.
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,160
    Are you thinking of Jogues Chant?
  • Pes
    Posts: 623
    Woot! Good work, Matt!
  • Ralph BednarzRalph Bednarz
    Posts: 489
    there it is.
  • mjcurtis
    Posts: 62
    Michael, sorry for the very late response. At my church we do not interpret the salicus by lengthening the vertical episema. It would have been difficult for me to change this interpretation as it has been so engraved in my brain. Plus, I was already halfway into recording everything when I learned about this debated rule of interpretation. I hope it hasn't caused too many problems.

    Matt
  • mjcurtis
    Posts: 62
    Regarding JoguesChant, it is a fantastic site. It is exactly the vision and mission I had for my website but done much better. :) I have VERY limited knowledge of web design nor the time to put everything together. As Jeff Ostrowski may have mentioned to many, most of my recordings will be available to download for free on JoguesChant in addition to a very large portion of the Mass Ordinary and the Extraordinary form. You will have to check back often over the summer as I plan on recording TONS of new stuff. Thanks for everyone's support and to JoguesChant!

    Matt
  • RagueneauRagueneau
    Posts: 2,592
    We are very blessed to have Matthew helping us (hopefully starting within the next 1-2 months) and I want to thank the CMAA for making this forum possible.

    It is only thanks to this forum that I was able to meet Matt, and so many other wonderful people.

    By the way, Matt's project is fantastic, and I think now that we are going to combine efforts, we will be able to help restore Gregorian chant to its proper place (no pun intended!).
  • a1437053a1437053
    Posts: 198
    Thank you Matt, Thank you Jeff, Thanks to all who have made ALL these files available.
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