Plainchant or Gregorian Chant

Plainchant is Christian liturgical choral music unaccompanied by any instrument. It is also known as Gregorian chant because it was thought that Pope St. Gregory the Great created it. While it is now thought that Gregory did much to encourage the compilation, organization and development of existing liturgical music, the historical record does not support the assertion that he was alone responsible for its origin.

Plainchant on CD

Seven Lives Many Faces (2 CDs)

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 10/11/2008)

Andre Rieu: Live in Vienna

Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 10/11/2008)

Songs of Joy & Peace

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 10/11/2008)

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 10/11/2008)

Chant: Music For The Soul

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 10/11/2008)

Solesmes

Abbey of St. Solesmes, France

This Benedictine establishment is largely responsible for the modern rebirth of plainchant.

Catholic Encyclopedia: A brief history of the Abbey, with links.
EWTN Pilgrim Information: The Eternal World Television Network provides a capsule of information for Catholic pilgrims wishing to visit the Abbey.
GIA Publications: Important contemporary chant publications from the Abbey.

Associations & Organizations

Support & Promotion of Sacred Music

Church Music Association of America: from the website:

"The Church Music Association of America is an association of Catholic musicians, and those who have a special interest in music and liturgy, active in advancing Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony, and other forms of sacred music, including new composition, for liturgical use."

Graduals, Antiphonals & Psalters

Illuminated Hymnals

Used by choirs of monks and nuns in the Middle Ages, these beautiful books of music were sometimes taken apart and the individual leaves reused or sold.

Art Source International: On Pearl Street in Boulder, Colorado, this purveyor of maps, posters and photographs also sells individual leaves from illuminated manuscripts. Sometimes pages from graduals, antiphonals or psalters become available. There is no way to predict what might be available when. You just have to check with them.

Books about Plainchant

Western Plainchant: A Handbook (Clarendon Paperbacks)

Illuminated Manuscripts at Auction

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Music Manuscripts at Auction

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Russian and Eastern Orthodox Chant

From the Eastern Christian tradition (as opposed to the Roman rite)

Chants of the Russian Orthodox Church: Magnatune offers chants of the Russian Orthodox Church for purchase.
Ancient Faith Radio: High quality internet based Orthodox programming: music, teaching, interviews, features, convert testimonies, conference recordings, and much more.

Squidoo

Music

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