Sr. Mary Gloria Onyeguili is a Benedictine Nun of St. Scholastica Abbey, Umuoji, in Anambra State, Nigeria. She is currently engaged in studying sacred music, especially Gregorian Chant, in a four year course in Rome, run from the ancient Benedictine monastery of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.
Pluscarden monks have recently collaborated in a most unusual project. It involved the singing of Gregorian Chant, to the accompaniment of free piano improvisation. Over two intense days, on Thursday 30 June and Friday 1 July, some twenty or so Chant pieces were sung and recorded in this way.
On Easter Day we sing “Alleluia”, as our song of joy in the light of Christ’s victory over death. Today also, the Feast of the Ascension, we sing “Alleluia”, just as much so, and maybe even more, as Christ takes his place forever in the glory of his Father.
Salus populi ego sum, dicit Dominus (cf. Ps 34/35:3; Ps 36/37:39 etc.) I am the salvation of my people, says the Lord. Some time in the early centuries of the Church, someone wove the text of today’s Introit Chant out of various Psalm verses, and set…
The Pluscarden Schola has been recording again recently. We were fortunate to have in late July this year a visit by Dr. Giedrius Gapsys, who is a renowned scholar of Gregorian Chant, and a good friend of our community…
The monks of Pluscarden present a new album: Tempus per annum. The album explores music used in ‘Ordinary Time’ - that is, all the weeks that fall outside the Seasons of Advent…
