Chant Grégorien - Messe De L'Ascension - Messe De L'Assomption

Released in 1972 on the IPG label, this recording features the Chœur des Moines de l'Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes under the direction of Dom Jean Claire. The Abbey of Solesmes has long been recognized as the epicenter of the restoration of Gregorian chant, with its monks dedicating decades to the scholarly research and performance of authentic liturgical melodies as preserved in the earliest manuscripts.

The album serves as a liturgical document, capturing the specific propers for the Masses of the Ascension and the Assumption. Dom Jean Claire, a respected musicologist and successor to the tradition of Dom Joseph Gajard, sought to capture a performance that balanced historical rhythmic accuracy with the meditative, prayerful atmosphere of the abbey’s basilica. The recording was well-received by liturgical scholars and enthusiasts of early music for its dedication to the pure, unaccompanied vocal line that defines the Solesmes style.