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Thought I might share an unusual double-album set I found some years ago: a set of instructional records for Gregorian chant, made by the monks of St. Benoit-du-Lac in Canada.

I'm not quite sure when they were made; but the albums have a typewritten sticker, identifying them as the gift of one R. P. Giguère, to the Little Franciscans of Mary at Fort Kent, and dated August 1, 1951.

Lucius,here are some details about your record sets and its performers.
http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/cds/ryg1.htm
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/gram ... 084-f.html

I have always loved Gregorian Chant and wondered what the earliest recording of it is.
The searches I did for this thread has turned up The Westminster Cathedral Choir in 1925, but I do not know if there are any earlier.

Here is one from 1931.

It a simple example.

The set was re-released in 1962.
Hear a sound bite...
http://www.folkways.si.edu/albumdetails.aspx?itemid=587
..............

And another from 1930.

This is a great collection of chants.

Victor 7341 / 7352, set M87, 78rpm, six 12" discs, USA
Was this RCA Scroll Victrola label only use between 1934-39?

Hear a sound bite...
http://www.allmusic.com/album/gregorian ... ered-w5925
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00260 ... u_dp_trk27

I found an ad in Life magazine from January 1939. It was selling sound systems to churches and listed this record set with other church recordings.

James

I see that it was distributed by Ed. Archambault Lte. who are still in business in the same spot on Ste Catherine Street. They have to be one of the longest running music houses on the continent. From the label I would guess these were recorded by Herbert Berliner's Compo Company.
Jim

Thanks! Is there any source for information on the recording dates?

Bill

The Benedictine monks of Solesmes are the keepers of the chant tradition in the Roman Catholic church. Their editions of Gregorian Chant are the last word in historical and scholarly accuracy. I have their edition of the "Liber usualis," the book of usual chants, containing the music for the most important occasions throughout the church year, and we musicology grad students studied the chant from this book. It is the true musical foundation of all of Western music (and I do seriously mean "all"), and a world cultural treasure. (BTW, this has nothing whatsoever to do with one's religious affiliation or lack thereof; I myself am a lapsed Lutheran.) The monks of Solesmes performances of the chant may be regarded as definitive, both for their accuracy and for their artistry. I have LP and CD recordings of their beautiful singing; owning a 78 recording is indeed a great privilege, one that I can only aspire to.

Roaring20s wrote:Lucius,here are some details about your record sets and its performers.
http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/cds/ryg1.htm
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/gram ... 084-f.html

I have always loved Gregorian Chant and wondered what the earliest recording of it is.
The searches I did for this thread has turned up The Westminster Cathedral Choir in 1925, but I do not know if there are any earlier.

Here is one from 1931.

It a simple example.

The set was re-released in 1962.
Hear a sound bite...
http://www.folkways.si.edu/albumdetails.aspx?itemid=587
..............

And another from 1930.

This is a great collection of chants.

Victor 7341 / 7352, set M87, 78rpm, six 12" discs, USA
Was this RCA Scroll Victrola label only use between 1934-39?

Hear a sound bite...
http://www.allmusic.com/album/gregorian ... ered-w5925
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00260 ... u_dp_trk27

I found an ad in Life magazine from January 1939. It was selling sound systems to churches and listed this record set with other church recordings.

James

Thanks very much!

Bill