Gregorian Chant, also known as “plainsong”, is among the oldest music of the European classical music tradition. It is also the basis for all of the great choral music that was sung in the Roman Catholic church and contains some of the greatest melodies that have been composed. These Gregorian melodies were incorporated in the choral music of every century. I first heard a recording of Gregorian chant in 1965 in a university music-appreciation course. I realized immediately how beautiful, powerful, and uplifting this ancient music was! Millions of people re-discovered Gregorian chant during the period of popularity of new age music in the 1980s and then again in the 1990s when the album “Chant,” recorded by the Benedictine monks of Santo Domingo de Silos from Spain hit the pop charts in England.
     My study of Gregorian chant began in 1971, at the same time that I began a ten-year study of Renaissance sacred music. Gregorian chant and the sacred music of the 16th century are very closely interwoven.
     The best source of information about Gregorian chant are old publications of the Catholic church that we will be offering as reprints.