Gregorian (band)
Encyclopedia
Gregorian is a German
band
headed by Frank Peterson
that performs Gregorian chant
-inspired versions of modern pop
and rock
songs. The band features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment.
. 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 Jan-Eric Kohrs, Michael Soltau and Carsten Heusmann 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. For each album, songs were carefully chosen in addition to original songs written by Jan-Eric Kohrs, Amelia Brightman and Carsten Heussman. Twelve vocalists - previously acclaimed session and choir singers - were then hired to record the tracks.
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.
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 31 March 2006. In 2006, a festive album was also released, titled Christmas Chants
. A sixth Masters of Chant album
was released on 28 September 2007. In 2009 a seventh Masters of Chant album
followed.
On 8 September 2010 the next album, titled The Dark Side of Chant, was announced to be published on 15 October 2010.
Others who contribute to the vocals or sound of Gregorian are Sarah Brightman
(under the pseudonyms Hepsibah or Sarah Hellmann), Amelia Brightman (Sarah Brightman's younger sister), Frank Peterson, and staff of Nemo Studio among others.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
headed by Frank Peterson
Frank Peterson
Frank Peterson is a German music producer known for his work with Enigma and artists such as Sarah Brightman, Ofra Haza, Gregorian, Princessa and Andrea Bocelli on his first international album Romanza in 1997....
that performs Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity that accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual services...
-inspired versions of modern pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
songs. The band features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment.
Band history
Originally, Gregorian was conceived as a more pop-oriented group in the vein of EnigmaEnigma (musical project)
Enigma is an electronic musical project founded in Germany by Michael Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. The Romanian-born Cretu conceived the Enigma project while working in Germany, but has based his recording studio A.R.T. Studios in Ibiza, Spain, since the early 1990s until May...
. Under this concept, they recorded the 1991 album Sadisfaction
Sadisfaction
Sadisfaction is the first album by Gregorian.Originally, Gregorian was conceived as a more pop-oriented group in the vein of Enigma. Under this concept, they recorded this album, with lead vocals provided by The Sisters of Oz: Susana Espelleta and Birgit Freud...
, 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 Jan-Eric Kohrs, Michael Soltau and Carsten Heusmann 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. For each album, songs were carefully chosen in addition to original songs written by Jan-Eric Kohrs, Amelia Brightman and Carsten Heussman. Twelve vocalists - previously acclaimed session and choir singers - were then hired to record the tracks.
Each Gregorian album is initially digitally tracked at Nemo Studios, Peterson's Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
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.
The concept proved to be successful, and the group proceeded to record several more Masters of Chant
Masters of Chant
Masters of Chant is the second album by Gregorian, released in 1999. It is the first Masters of Chant album.In 2008 Barnes & Noble/Curb Records released a Gregorian compilation album with the Masters of Chant name, containing tracks from various Masters of Chant albums.- Track listing :# "Brothers...
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
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
with a live DVD, was released. A fifth Masters of Chant album
Masters of Chant Chapter V
Masters of Chant Chapter V is the seventh album by German band Gregorian. It was released on March 31, 2006.Note that the album The Dark Side was also released in Oceania under the name Masters of Chant V...
was released on 31 March 2006. In 2006, a festive album was also released, titled Christmas Chants
Christmas Chants
Christmas Chants is a seasonal album by German band Gregorian released in 2006. In 2008 a special edition titled Christmas Chants & Visions was released, containing the original CD with two bonus tracks, and a DVD...
. A sixth Masters of Chant album
Masters of Chant Chapter VI
Masters of Chant Chapter VI is the ninth album by German band Gregorian. It was released on 28 September 2007.- Track listing :# "Guide Me God" # "Miracle of Love" # "Dreams" # "The Circle"...
was released on 28 September 2007. In 2009 a seventh Masters of Chant album
Masters of Chant Chapter VII
Masters of Chant Chapter VII is the tenth album by Gregorian. The album was released September 25, 2009.- Track listing :# "Meadows of Heaven" # "One" # "It Will Be Forgiven"# "Sweet Child of Mine"...
followed.
On 8 September 2010 the next album, titled The Dark Side of Chant, was announced to be published on 15 October 2010.
Tours
Gregorian have toured parts of Europe, Russia and Japan. Live concert DVDs have also been released.Members
The members of the Gregorian choir group are Richard Naxton (Naxos), Johnny Clucas (Johnny), Chris Tickner (Chris T.), Richard Collier (Rich), Gerry O'Beirne (Gerry), Lawrence White (Lorro) and Rob Fardell (Rob F.).Others who contribute to the vocals or sound of Gregorian are Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
(under the pseudonyms Hepsibah or Sarah Hellmann), Amelia Brightman (Sarah Brightman's younger sister), Frank Peterson, and staff of Nemo Studio among others.
Discography
Gregorian have released eight albums in their Masters of Chant series and a number of other albums, including a Christmas album. They have also released two types of video album; live concerts and music video albums featuring the singers in various surroundings.Masters of Chant albums
- 1999: Masters of ChantMasters of ChantMasters of Chant is the second album by Gregorian, released in 1999. It is the first Masters of Chant album.In 2008 Barnes & Noble/Curb Records released a Gregorian compilation album with the Masters of Chant name, containing tracks from various Masters of Chant albums.- Track listing :# "Brothers...
- 2001: Masters of Chant Chapter IIMasters of Chant Chapter IIMasters of Chant Chapter II is the third album by Gregorian.-Track listing:#"Moment of Peace" #"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"...
- 2002: Masters of Chant Chapter IIIMasters of Chant Chapter IIIMasters of Chant III is the fourth album by Gregorian.- Track listing :# "Join Me" – 4:10 # "Be" – 5:20...
- 2003: Masters of Chant Chapter IVMasters of Chant Chapter IVMasters of Chant IV is the fifth album by German band Gregorian.-Track listing:# "The Gift" # "Bridge over Troubled Water" # "With or Without You"...
- 2006: Masters of Chant Chapter VMasters of Chant Chapter VMasters of Chant Chapter V is the seventh album by German band Gregorian. It was released on March 31, 2006.Note that the album The Dark Side was also released in Oceania under the name Masters of Chant V...
- 2007: Masters of Chant Chapter VIMasters of Chant Chapter VIMasters of Chant Chapter VI is the ninth album by German band Gregorian. It was released on 28 September 2007.- Track listing :# "Guide Me God" # "Miracle of Love" # "Dreams" # "The Circle"...
- 2009: Masters of Chant Chapter VIIMasters of Chant Chapter VIIMasters of Chant Chapter VII is the tenth album by Gregorian. The album was released September 25, 2009.- Track listing :# "Meadows of Heaven" # "One" # "It Will Be Forgiven"# "Sweet Child of Mine"...
- 2011: Masters of Chant Chapter VIII
Other albums
- 1991: SadisfactionSadisfactionSadisfaction is the first album by Gregorian.Originally, Gregorian was conceived as a more pop-oriented group in the vein of Enigma. Under this concept, they recorded this album, with lead vocals provided by The Sisters of Oz: Susana Espelleta and Birgit Freud...
- 2004: The Dark Side (called Masters of Chant V in Oceania but distinct from the 2006 album of that name)
- 2005: The Masterpieces (Best of CD and Live DVD)
- 2006: Christmas ChantsChristmas ChantsChristmas Chants is a seasonal album by German band Gregorian released in 2006. In 2008 a special edition titled Christmas Chants & Visions was released, containing the original CD with two bonus tracks, and a DVD...
- 2007: Masters of Chant (Curb Records)
- 2010: Dark Side of the ChantDark Side of the Chant'Dark side of the chant' is Gregorian's 13th album, released in 2010. It features songs which are originally made by artists varying from 'AC/DC' and the Dutch band 'Within Temptation' to their own work.- Track listing :# "O Fortuna"...
- 2011: Best Of 1990-2010Best Of 1990-2010- Track listing :# So Sad# Nothing Else Matters# Moment Of Peace# Voyage Voyage# Hymn# Join Me# The Raven# Angels# The Forest# Fix You# One# Happy Xmas - The War is Over# Sadness # Forever Young# Missing# Let Down# Sinners And Saints...
CD singles
- 1991: "Once in a LifetimeOnce in a Lifetime (Gregorian song)"Once in a Lifetime" is a 1991 single by Gregorian from the album Sadisfaction. The song is sung by the Sisters of Oz .-Track listing:#Once in a Lifetime #Once in a Lifetime "Once in a Lifetime" is a 1991 single by Gregorian from the album Sadisfaction. The song is sung by the Sisters of Oz (Susana...
" - 1991: "So Sad"
- 2000: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
- 2001: "Moment of Peace"
- 2001: "Voyage, Voyage"
- 2010: "O FortunaO Fortuna"O Fortuna" is a medieval Latin Goliardic poem written early in the thirteenth century, part of the collection known as the Carmina Burana. It is a complaint about fate, and Fortuna, a goddess in Roman mythology and personification of luck....
"
Video albums
- 2001: Masters of Chant in Santiago de Compostela
- 2001: Moments of Peace in Ireland
- 2002: Masters of Chant Chapter IIIMasters of Chant Chapter IIIMasters of Chant III is the fourth album by Gregorian.- Track listing :# "Join Me" – 4:10 # "Be" – 5:20...
- 2003: Gold Edition
- 2005: The Masterpieces
- 2007: Masters of Chant: Live at Kreuzenstein Castle
- 2008: Christmas Chants & Visions
- 2011: Masters of Chant Chapter 8 (Gregorian Live in Europe 2011: The Dark Side Of The Chant)