Gregorian (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
[edit] Discography
- Sadisfaction (1991)
- Masters of Chant (2000)
- Masters of Chant Chapter II (2001)
- Masters of Chant Chapter III (2002)
- Masters of Chant Chapter IV (2003)
- Gregorian - The Dark Side (2004)
- The Masterpieces: Best Of + Live DVD (2005)
- Masters of Chant Chapter V (2006)
- Christmas Chants (2006)
[edit] Notes
- ^ Q&A: Frank Peterson. The Age. August 26, 2001. Retrieved August 6, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Official site (GER, EN)
- Fan site (GER, ENG, DUT, RU)
- German Fan site
- English Fan site
- Polish Fan site
| Modern musical projects based on Gregorian chant and other chants |
|---|
| 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 |
