The high desert country of Nothern New Mexico is rich in natural diversity although the human population is modest. In the exquisite Rio Chama Canyon far from the nearest town of Abiquiu lies the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. Here, a community of monks follows the Benedictine way of life by engaging in prayer, study and manual labor in a quiet atmosphere of brotherly love.
Each day, the wilderness wind carries the sound of tolling bells and the singing of Gregorian and Byzantine chants which hearken the medieval antiquity and reflect the heart of contemporary Christian Monasticicm and brotherhood.
Gregorian chant or plainsongs consists of about 3,000 melodies and comprises the very heart of the musical repertoire of the Roman Catholic Church. It is performed in any of 8 basic modes , 7 of which were given names identical to those used in ancient Grecian musical theory. Some chants belong to specific periods in the Liturgical Calendar which include Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, while others are ever appropriate in Ordinary time.
In 1996, the monks compiled their monastic chants representing all the seasons of the Liturgical Calendar in a CD.
In August 13, 2005 they were invited to participate in the Sta Fe Chamber Music Festival showcasing a variety of performances in the different areas of Music. Their chant onstage was recorded live by Matthew Snyder Recording Service of Burbank, California, USA and by permission, the CD has been produced and released.
Chants in this playlist are representatives of the Cycles in the Liturgical calendar observed by the monks in the Monastery of Christ in the Desert.
