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The Season of Advent

by The Monks of Pluscarden Abbey

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John Bromback
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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      £11 GBP  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Digipak with a booklet, written by the Monks of Pluscarden Abbey. It contains detailed descriptions of the Abbey, the recording process, as well as translations of the lyrics for each track. Artwork by Oliver Norcott

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Season of Advent via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
Antiphon: In illa die 01:08
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2.
Antiphon: Iucundare 01:23
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3.
Hymn: Conditor alme siderum 01:51
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4.
Devotional Hymn: Rorate caeli 04:39
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5.
Introit: Ad te levavi 01:22
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6.
Gradual: Universi 02:14
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7.
Offertory: Ad te Domine levavi 02:00
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8.
Antiphon: Ecce Dominus noster 01:16
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9.
Antiphon: Urbs fortitudinis 01:56
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10.
Hymn: Vox clara 01:38
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11.
Alleluia: Laetatus sum 02:12
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12.
Communion: Ierusalem surge 02:13
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13.
Antiphon: Montes et omnes colles 01:54
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14.
Antiphona: Ierusalem 01:21
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15.
Responsory: Veni ad liberandum nos 01:03
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16.
Hymn: Nunc Sancte nobis Spiritus 01:24
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17.
Introit: Gaudete in Domino 01:42
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18.
Gradual: Qui sedes 02:38
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19.
Alleluia: Excita Domine 01:47
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20.
Communion: Dicite pusillanimes 02:16
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21.
Antiphon: Rorate caeli desuper 01:20
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22.
Antiphon: Canite tuba 02:00
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23.
Antiphon: Rex pacificus 01:06
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24.
Hymn: Veni redemptor gentium 02:11
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25.
Antiphon: O Sapientia 02:11
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26.
Introit: Rorate caeli 02:11
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27.
Gradual: Tollite portas 03:22
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28.
Offertory: Ave Maria 02:01
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29.
Advent Preface 02:30
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30.
Sanctus XVII 01:24
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31.
Agnus Dei XVII 01:08
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32.
Responsory: Iudea et Ierusalem 03:44
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33.
Communion: Ecce Virgo 02:10
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34.
Marian Antiphon: Alma Redemptoris 01:49
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about

A sequence of psalms and antiphons for the season of Advent. This album was recorded onsite, at the Pluscarden Abbey. The selection is divided into four uneven parts, which represents the four weeks of Advent.

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REVIEW:

The new CD released by the monks of Pluscarden is a musical and liturgical goldmine. The singing of the main chants of the Mass and the Divine Office for the season of Advent is of a very high standard, reflecting profound appreciation of both text and music. The booklet of 31 pages, without going into small print, provides the Latin texts for all 34 tracks, together with full translation and notes on each item. The care that has gone into the production of the CD is evident also in the quality of the sound editing.

One of the most attractive features of the recording is the way it evokes the four-week structure of Advent, moving from a distant glimpse of light and joy to chants thrilling with expectation on the threshold of Christmas. Section II is particularly lovely: listen to the lifting of the tonic accents in the antiphon Ecce Dominus noster (track 8), and the opening of the high walls and gates in the next antiphon, Urbs fortitudinis; the Alleluia, Laetatus sum (11) flows forward in youthful joy, whilst in the Communion chant, Ierusalem surge (12), we sense we are standing on tiptoe.

There are many other glorious moments. An extra-liturgical favourite of many monastic communities, Rorate caeli (4), is evidently loved by the monks of Pluscarden. The Alleluia of the third Sunday of Advent, Excita Domine (19), dances with joy as it invites the Lord to come, veni, and save us.

The singing is underpinned by an understanding of the neums that give expressive sense to the music in the earliest manuscripts. The treatment in the introit Gaudete (17) of the torculus and porrectus, as of the bivirga on nihil, is masterly. At the opening of the offertory Ave Maria (28), the articulation of the torculus resupinus prepares the rising gracious acclamation of Maria. Marian chants are intrinsic to the atmosphere and mystery of Advent, and the two final items make a fitting climax to the recording: Ecce Virgo, the ecstatic Communion chant sung on Sunday IV of Advent (33), together with the loveliest of pieces, the solemn version of the Alma Redemptoris Mater.

This CD succeeds in conveying the beauty of the sung liturgy and its potential to transform our lives. Time stands still, to allow glimpses of eternity to enter our lives.

– Sr. Margaret Truran OSB, Choir mistress, Santa Cecilia Abbey, Rome, also founder of the Chant School Cantantibus Organis

credits

released January 12, 2024

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