New Chant CD launched from College Chapel

 

Saints and Scholars

Chant from Maynooth College Chapel

Schola Gregoriana Maynooth

 

Saints and Scholars: Chant from Maynooth College Chapel is a CD recording of liturgical plainchant by Schola Gregoriana Maynooth.

Founded in 2001, the group consists of female voices, students of music and theology from both Universities on campus, NUI Maynooth and the Pontifical University of St. Patrick’s College. They are conducted by Giovanna Feeley, who is currently pursuing doctoral studies in liturgical music at St. Patrick’s College.

The recording features music relating to the feasts of St Patrick and St John the Baptist. Both saints are associated with the College Chapel where the CD was recorded: the chapel was consecrated on the Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist, 24th June 1891. In addition both saints are featured on the College Chapel ceiling where 72 panels feature the heavenly host. Both paintings by Westlake are featured on the cover of the CD.

The St John the Baptist material is taken from the Gregorian chant repertory: the chants recorded are those of the Vigil Mass. The chants for St Patrick are rare and new material, edited and transcribed by Dr Ann Buckley. Dr Buckley is based in NUI Maynooth as part of an international project researching music of Irish saints in manuscripts from Ireland and continental Europe. The CD also contains two polyphonic pieces from Irish manuscripts.

The CD was launched in Maynooth on Wednesday October 15 2008 and is available in:

• Veritas
• National Concert Hall Music Box
• Outlets Nationwide
• NUI Maynooth
• Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth

For more information or to order the CD, please e-mail SaintsAndScholars@may.ie.

Review by Frank Lawrence of University College Dublin from The Furrow, December 2008.