I think it's really a shame that modern, mainstream Christian music is dominated by so much tepid soft rock when its roots are so full of ethereal beauty like these Gaelic psalms, choral hymns and...
I think it's really a shame that modern, mainstream Christian music is dominated by so much tepid soft rock when its roots are so full of ethereal beauty like these Gaelic psalms, choral hymns and Gregorian chants (which I still meditate to even though I am no longer a Christian or even religious). I think this article makes a very interesting point about them being sung in a foreign language providing an effective insulating layer allowing even non-religious and non-Christians to appreciate it though. I had never really considered that aspect but it definitely rings true, at least for me. I think perhaps the only exception there is Gospel mass choir music which, even though I can fully understand it, is still incredibly beautiful to me.
Thanks for sharing this article and album... now I have something else to put in my meditation playlist rotation. :)
If you want to hear some Gregorian chants in person, dig around your city for a Compline service on Sunday nights. In Vancouver, Christ Church Cathedral has it starting around 8pm, and ending...
If you want to hear some Gregorian chants in person, dig around your city for a Compline service on Sunday nights. In Vancouver, Christ Church Cathedral has it starting around 8pm, and ending about an hour later.
I've been to a few complines in various cities and they all seem to rotate between various groups -- all male, all female, mixed. Its pretty great for those of us who have left the church but still find valuable meditation in that sort of space.
As for talking, there is one main part -- and its always the same, Basically a message of 'we're closing off the week. What is done, is done. What is not done, is not done..'
Thanks, I didn't know about that and will have to look for something similar in my area! Listening to something through headphones is one thing, but nothing compares to hearing it live, especially...
Thanks, I didn't know about that and will have to look for something similar in my area! Listening to something through headphones is one thing, but nothing compares to hearing it live, especially in a church with good acoustics. I once had the privilege of hearing a choir practice at St. Stephen's in Vienna when I was visiting there on vacation and it was magical. We had planned a whole bunch of other things for that day but wound up spending most of the morning just sitting in the Cathedral listening to the choir instead. :P
p.s. <3 Van. I was born and raised in White Rock but live in Toronto now.
oh nice! White Rock is great. I lived out there and around the non-Whalley parts of Surrey for the better part of a decade. The weather is nicer. Christ Church is that fancy church across from the...
oh nice! White Rock is great. I lived out there and around the non-Whalley parts of Surrey for the better part of a decade. The weather is nicer.
Christ Church is that fancy church across from the Burrard Skytrain. Most Sundays for Compline the service has ~30 people, mostly tourists. Their midnight mass is chaos, but still worth it if you're in the area.
There may be one that's more frequent, but https://www.trinitystpauls.ca has a Compline service during lent, starting March 24th from 9:00 - 9:30. There's got to be another one, though.
Yeah, White Rock is exceptionally pretty (as is Vancouver in general, esp. compared to Toronto). It's been a long time since I was last out West though. :( And nice, I have family still living in...
Yeah, White Rock is exceptionally pretty (as is Vancouver in general, esp. compared to Toronto). It's been a long time since I was last out West though. :( And nice, I have family still living in Surrey and nearby in Abbotsford too.
And, oh dang... I actually lived in Port Credit (where Trinity St. Paul's is) for a number of years and had no idea they did services like that. I'm going to have to make a special note for myself to go back there for the lent services. Thanks for the heads up!
No problem... and while these aren't Christian, the Gyuto monks and Tuvan/Mongolian throat singing are some other spiritual favorites of mine that you might enjoy.
I think it's really a shame that modern, mainstream Christian music is dominated by so much tepid soft rock when its roots are so full of ethereal beauty like these Gaelic psalms, choral hymns and Gregorian chants (which I still meditate to even though I am no longer a Christian or even religious). I think this article makes a very interesting point about them being sung in a foreign language providing an effective insulating layer allowing even non-religious and non-Christians to appreciate it though. I had never really considered that aspect but it definitely rings true, at least for me. I think perhaps the only exception there is Gospel mass choir music which, even though I can fully understand it, is still incredibly beautiful to me.
Thanks for sharing this article and album... now I have something else to put in my meditation playlist rotation. :)
If you want to hear some Gregorian chants in person, dig around your city for a Compline service on Sunday nights. In Vancouver, Christ Church Cathedral has it starting around 8pm, and ending about an hour later.
I've been to a few complines in various cities and they all seem to rotate between various groups -- all male, all female, mixed. Its pretty great for those of us who have left the church but still find valuable meditation in that sort of space.
As for talking, there is one main part -- and its always the same, Basically a message of 'we're closing off the week. What is done, is done. What is not done, is not done..'
Not the best video, but you get the idea -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_jz8TmIRE4
Thanks, I didn't know about that and will have to look for something similar in my area! Listening to something through headphones is one thing, but nothing compares to hearing it live, especially in a church with good acoustics. I once had the privilege of hearing a choir practice at St. Stephen's in Vienna when I was visiting there on vacation and it was magical. We had planned a whole bunch of other things for that day but wound up spending most of the morning just sitting in the Cathedral listening to the choir instead. :P
p.s. <3 Van. I was born and raised in White Rock but live in Toronto now.
oh nice! White Rock is great. I lived out there and around the non-Whalley parts of Surrey for the better part of a decade. The weather is nicer.
Christ Church is that fancy church across from the Burrard Skytrain. Most Sundays for Compline the service has ~30 people, mostly tourists. Their midnight mass is chaos, but still worth it if you're in the area.
There may be one that's more frequent, but https://www.trinitystpauls.ca has a Compline service during lent, starting March 24th from 9:00 - 9:30. There's got to be another one, though.
Yeah, White Rock is exceptionally pretty (as is Vancouver in general, esp. compared to Toronto). It's been a long time since I was last out West though. :( And nice, I have family still living in Surrey and nearby in Abbotsford too.
And, oh dang... I actually lived in Port Credit (where Trinity St. Paul's is) for a number of years and had no idea they did services like that. I'm going to have to make a special note for myself to go back there for the lent services. Thanks for the heads up!
Thanks for those links, I definitely need some more stuff to scratch this specific itch!
No problem... and while these aren't Christian, the Gyuto monks and Tuvan/Mongolian throat singing are some other spiritual favorites of mine that you might enjoy.
An interesting article on an album of Gaelic psalms from the Hebrides. You can listen to the album itself here!