Gregorian is a German band, headed by Frank Peterson, performing Gregorian chant-inspired versions of modern pop and rock songs. Because it features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment, the music cannot be considered true Gregorian chant. Originally, Gregorian was conceived as a more pop-oriented group in the vein of Enigma. Under this concept, they recorded the 1991 album Sadisfaction, with lead vocals provided by The Sisters of Oz: Susana Espelleta (Peterson's wife at the time) and Birgit Freud. However, this was the only album in that style. In 1998, Peterson and his team re-invented the project to perform popular songs in the Gregorian style. The criteria for song selection were strict; in order to be considered, a song needed to be translatable into the 7-tone scale. After the songs were chosen, twelve vocalists - previously acclaimed session and choir singers - were hired. Each Gregorian album is initially digitally tracked at Nemo Studios, Peterson's Hamburg studio. The vocalists then record their parts in a church atmosphere with dimmed lights and candles, in order to escape what Peterson referred to in a 2001 interview as the "cold and technical" studio atmosphere. [1] The concept proved to be successful, and the group proceeded to record several more Masters of Chant albums in the same style. Their 2004 album, The Dark Side, was a slight departure from the others, featuring a darker repertoire consistent with the title. In 2005, The Masterpieces, a compilation album with a live DVD, was released. A fifth Masters of Chant album was released on March 31, 2006. A sixth Masters of Chant album was released on September 28, 2007.
Discography
- 1991: Sadisfaction
- 2000: Masters of Chant
- 2001: Masters of Chant Chapter II
- 2002: Masters of Chant Chapter III
- 2003: Masters of Chant Chapter IV
- 2004: Gregorian - The Dark Side
- 2005: The Masterpieces (Best Of CD+Live DVD)
- 2005: The Masterpieces Jewel Case! (Live DVD+Best Of CD)
- 2006: Masters of Chant Chapter V
- 2006: Christmas Chants
- 2007: Masters of Chant Chapter VI
Notes
- ^ Q&A: Frank Peterson. The Age. August 26, 2001. Retrieved August 6, 2006.
External links
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| Aereda • Cantara • Divine Works • Elbosco • Enigma • E Nomine • Era • E.S. Posthumus • Gala • Gregorian • Industrial Monk • Lesiëm • Libera • Magna Canta • Mysteria • Nostradamus • Richard Souther (Vision and Illumination) • Solyma |
