Gregorian Chant Vol. 15: Sundays XXVI, XVII, XXXIII "Per Annum" (Formerly 20th, 21st And 23rd After Pentecost)

This recording features the Chœur des Moines de l'Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes under the direction of Dom Joseph Gajard, a pivotal figure in the 20th-century revival of Gregorian chant. Produced in the mid-1970s and released by The Record Society, this volume captures the liturgical music intended for the 'Per Annum' period of the church calendar, specifically the 26th, 27th, and 33rd Sundays of the year. The Solesmes monks are world-renowned for their meticulous scholarship and dedication to restoring the authentic monodic tradition of the Roman Catholic Church, a mission that defined their prolific recording career throughout the post-war era.

The aesthetic behind this series aimed for acoustic purity, often recorded within the resonant stone architecture of the abbey to replicate the liturgical experience for listeners. Dom Joseph Gajard’s interpretation focused on the fluid, prayerful rhythm of the chant, moving away from the more rigid, metric interpretations common in the early 20th century. Upon release, these records were highly regarded by musicologists and liturgical scholars as the definitive reference point for the authentic execution of the Graduale Romanum, bridging the gap between medieval monastic practice and modern recording technology.