Jeffery,
In late December, I posted on the "Chant Recordings" discussion the following about the Schola Bellarmina:
"the extensive set of L'anne liturgique en Chant Gregorien CDs by the Schola Bellarmina offers a Classic Solesmes model of all the propers of the Sundays of the Liturgical year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Pentecost, and all of Ordinary time). They also have CDs for eighteen sets of Ordinaries. They are beginning to offer CDs for major Feasts. There is a quiet organ accompaniment for all but the Graduals, which for me has never posed a problem. It seems to me that their fidelity to the Classic Solesmes style is excellent, as are their pitch and legato."
I would add that they follow the Traditional Latin calendar, the Liber Usualis. They probably don't hold the ictic note of the salicus as long as some scholas following the Classic Solesmes method, but otherwise closely follow Classic Solesmes. They provide a highly consistent, clean, and precise rendering of the chant and made their recordings with the explicit purpose of providing a model for those learning chant. I highly recommend them, especially for schola members (like myself) who are learning the seasonal Mass propers.
How can I possibly listen to a schola that shortens the vertical episema on the salicus???? Kidding.
What I would like to do, actually, is post the full Kyriale CD on MusicaSacra. I don't need to tell this group that this would be good for them, by way of getting their stuff attention. But I expect to have trouble convincing the producers...
Classic Solesmes. Is that Solesmes under Dom Gajard? Solesmes of the 40/50ties? It isn't my favorite one. Isn't it this the one evaquated drastly in the 60/70ties? Aren't there may be some inherent reasons in this kind of singing, rythming, mensurating for this evaquation?
In EF effectivly. I don't know any OF (NO) gregorianik-choir in Europe (they are extremly rare) singing in the "classic seolesmes approach". I respect and like that approach, the most best to stay in bel canto and perfect legato, but it is no living singing for me. I need some "repercussion" and so on to make the legato bel canto living.
This online shop does not work the best way you would expect from that type of Website. When you click "Add to Cart" it does not react, does not go anywhere, does not seem to work... it actually does. After that, one way to see your shopping cart is to click the link "Shopping Cart" at the bottom of the page; you might find it in other places though. http://musique-liturgique.com/en/shopping-cart
Once you are there, either it remembers your account (settings saved in the browser) or you can create a new one.
I know it is a bit frustrating: I tried it too and clicked 3 times on "Add to Cart" before realising I ordered 3 sets...
The owner of musique-liturgique.com, Bernard Lorber, tells me that there is a technical problem with the site at present, and it is under repair; they'll let me know when it's back.
Amazing that you mention Bernard Lorber, I was just watching not long ago a video of L'Abbe Bernard Lorber celebrating Mass outdoors in Amiens. The traditional Catholic community in Amiens was reduced to having Mass on the street when they were turned out of the chapel where they had been for 23 years, and the local bishop refused to give them any other venue. They remained on the street and in the local park in all kinds of weather for several years, I believe, and Fr. Lorber was their pastor for most of that time.
The happy news is that last year they were granted permission to purchase the chapel in the former major seminary of Amiens where they are now located.
Is this because traditional Catholicism is stronger in France than anywhere in the world? And why is it strongest in France? Because in traditional French Catholic churches lex orandi statuat legem credendi et vivendi applies. In other words, it's because of the way they pray the Mass and the Divine Office and go on pilgrimages and have processions and public demonstrations for the Faith and establish schools, etc., etc.
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