Follow the life of Christ: from the Great O Antiphon "O Emmanuel" heralding His birth, to the triumphant chants proclaiming his glorious Resurrection.

The Coming of Christ is the first of a series of three CDs using the exquisite music of Gregorian chant to describe and illuminate the life of Christ. Well-known pieces alternate with numerous antiphons to bring us closer to the time of Christ's birth and early childhood. The prophetic announcements, the longing and anticipation of Christ's birth as well as the joy of the angels' message are all vividly portrayed in the chant.

The Beloved Son, the second recording in the series, celebrates the public life and ministry of Christ. Christ's Passion is the subject of I Am With You, the third disc, which includes the chanted passion narrative according to the Gospel of John.

This stirring music evokes the passion, mystery, and beauty of the life of Christ. Sung by the Gloriæ Dei Cantores Schola and conducted by Dr. Mary Berry, CBE, these renowned experts bring a wealth of experience to the interpretation of the chant.

Critical Acclaim

• “These three single CDs contain a set of 92 Gregorian chants that recount the entire Christian message of redemption, from the coming of Christ to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This program is a distinct contrast with chant discs that are arranged according to liturgical usage. Here it is the text that gives meaning to each selection, whatever the chant form may be. Antiphons from the Office are most numerous because they are invariably designed to tell the story of each feast, but responsories, hymns, and Mass propers are also found useful.”
  Fanfare

 
 

• “A constant shimmer of tiny accents and stresses sparking the words into life...This is music that has been 'lived in' by these performers, and they give us a sense that their journey of musical and spiritual discovery has been worth making.”
  BBC

 
 

• “Gregorian Chant sung in authentic style it is the first CD of a projected series 'that illuminates the life of Jesus through the exquisite music of the Gregorian chant.' The choice of Gregorian chants in between these works is original and intriguing an anthology of 35 melodies from the Christmas season. Some are fairly well known, but several of them are rarities that add interestingly to the available recorded repertory they sing with absolute fluency and authority. They sing in the best-researched Solesmes style something that is still not often heard. Gramophone's own Mary Berry conducts with unassailable authority. The singers create an atmosphere that is retained impressively throughout.”
  Gramophone

• “Here is a program of chant that includes prophecies of Christ's coming, the story of his nativity, a glance at John the Baptist, who preceded him, and even a magnificat (which Mary expressed nine months before Christ was born). Dr. Mary Berry is one of the leading Gregorian scholars, and all the singing is excellent, in perfect style. ... elegant and sincere, and if you are looking for Christmas Gregorian Chant it will do nicely. It was recorded at the Church of the Transfiguration in Cape Cod, and there are an organ prelude and postlude (Guilmant and Widor).”
  American Record Guide

 
 

• “These three single CDs [I am With You is the third in the series]contain a set of 92 Gregorian chants that recount the entire Christian message of redemption, from the coming of Christ to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This program is a distinct contrast with chant discs that are arranged according to liturgical usage. Here it is the text that gives meaning to each selection, whatever the chant form may be. Antiphons from the Office are most numerous because they are invariable designed to tell the story of each feast, but responsories, hymns, and Mass propers are also found useful.”
  Fanfare