Chant class last weekend

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pnewton

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I attended a chant class this last weekend. The teacher teaches Gregorian Chant at the University of St. Thomas. I have to say it was quite an experience. At least I have an academic understanding of chant notation, though I am a long way from being to a point where I can read it without it being a slow laborious process. I am still of the opinion that it is not easy to learn chant, from scratch, for someone like me. However, once one person does know a particular part, it is not hard to pass it on to a group. In fact, I intend to use his teaching method to help the deacon learn the Exultet next year. It took me weeks to get it down, but I think I can pass it on much quicker.
 
Oh, thanks for the report, didn’t know there was still a following for genre. One of my fondest memories was visiting St Bernards seminary in the 60’s and listening to the chanting…very moving. That’s what I call ‘get close to God music’.

hummm perhaps a ‘youtube’ search is in order.
 
Carolus_Martell said:
Oh, thanks for the report, didn’t know there was still a following for genre.
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There sure is! I’m a director of the Gregorian Institute of Canada, and we’re very active and I also sing in a schola nearby. There are several scholas/choirs in Quebec doing chant, mostly in Montreal, Sherbrooke (the one I sing with), Quebec City and Chicoutimi. Plus two Benedictine monasteries that use it daily, one of monks, the other of nuns.
 
OraLabora said:
There sure is! I’m a director of the Gregorian Institute of Canada, and we’re very active and I also sing in a schola nearby. There are several scholas/choirs in Quebec doing chant, mostly in Montreal, Sherbrooke (the one I sing with), Quebec City and Chicoutimi. Plus two Benedictine monasteries that use it daily, one of monks, the other of nuns.
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That’s awesome!

How does one get more education in singing Gregorian Chant?
 
I think the one thing that struck me is how easy the chant was to learn when one had an expert teacher. I remember when we first used Jubilate Dei, it literally took me months to get it down by myself. Hopefully I can be a better teacher this year. However, it is chant is still laborious enough fo me that we will have to take it slow in absence of an expert teacher.

The diocese here, and the seminary, have seminars throughout the year.
 
TrueLight said:
That’s awesome!

How does one get more education in singing Gregorian Chant?
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Depends where you live and what resources are available, or failing that how far you’re willing to travel! I was privately instructed by a Benedictine monk, the choirmaster at the local abbey and one of the foremost experts on chant in Canada.
 
pnewton said:
I attended a chant class this last weekend. The teacher teaches Gregorian Chant at the University of St. Thomas. I have to say it was quite an experience. At least I have an academic understanding of chant notation, though I am a long way from being to a point where I can read it without it being a slow laborious process. I am still of the opinion that it is not easy to learn chant, from scratch, for someone like me. However, once one person does know a particular part, it is not hard to pass it on to a group. In fact, I intend to use his teaching method to help the deacon learn the Exultet next year. It took me weeks to get it down, but I think I can pass it on much quicker.
Click to expand...
That’s wonderful you had a good experience. Just keep at it and stay positive. 👍
 
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