News
Release
For Immediate Release May 18, 2001
Contact: Susan McGourty
Mission San Miguel
Ph: (805) 467-2131
Fx: (805) 467-2141
Gregorian
Chant Group to Perform at Mission (Update)
Mission San Miguel, San Miguel, CA. . –
Mission San Miguel is
pleased to announce that the Gregorian chant consort group, “The Chapel of
Charlemagne” has agreed to perform a Free Will concert here, Saturday June 23rd at 4 p.m. in the Mission’s 204 year
old church. This will be the first time
in many decades that the melodious and soothing sounds of live chant will
resound through the historic adobe hall.
The program will also
feature interludes of Renaissance Lute Music performed on the Lute by Dr. Michael Miranda,
Professor of Early Music History and Lute at Loyola Marymount University.
For those
that are unfamiliar with Gregorian chant, it is the earliest music that we can
accurately transcribe. Its development before the ninth century remains one of
the great mysteries of music history.
It is named after Pope Gregory the Great (who reigned from 590 to 604 AD)
because he standardized the liturgical service in the late sixth century. At
this time because most monks were illiterate, there was no formal music
notation and the services for the entire church year had to be memorized. It wasn’t until the reign of Charlemagne
(768-814) and his father Pepin that, in order to unify church services in their
kingdom, they had their monks devise a system of notation that guided the
chantmaster in the direction of the melodies, as well as reminders of
expression --- although pitches still had to be sung from memory. Recent research and better understanding of
the old notation has given modern interpretation of the chant a more relaxed
and expressive quality than it had with the rhythmic system used earlier in the
20th century. It is this
more relaxed rhythmic chant that the “Chapel of Charlemagne” will perform.
The chant,
aside from its beautiful sound, has been studied and its affect upon human
physiology documented. In the-mid
1960’s, the French doctor, Alfred Tomitas pioneered research in the neural
physiological effects of chant on the minds and bodies of its listeners. According to his theory, there are two kinds
of sound: those that “discharge” (those that tire, fatigue and drain the
listener) and “charge” sounds (those that give energy, life and health). This study’s premise is that Gregorian chant
may be the most potent sound to promote strength and vitality.
The consort
group, “The Chapel of Charlemagne” is comprised of 25 members that perform
frequently in the greater Los Angeles area as well as tour and study summers at
the Abbey of St. Pierre de Solesmes in France.
Dr. Robert Fowells, founder of the Gregorian Schola of Los Angeles, is Emeritus
Professor of Music at CSULA where he taught choir and music history for 26 years.
He is the
author of the books: ”Chant Made Simple” and “Gregorian Semiology: The New
Chant.” The group’s CD as well as Dr.
Fowells’ book: “Chant Made Simple” will be offered for sale at the concert.
For more information, call (805) 467-2131 or visit http://www.missionsanmiguel.org This is a FREE WILL concert. Donations would be gratefully accepted for the Mission Building Fund.
The Chapel of Charlemagne.