Gregorian is a German band headed by Frank Peterson that performs Gregorian chant-inspired versions of modern pop and rock songs. The band features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment. They competed in Unser Lied für Stockholm, the German national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, and placed 5th in the first round of public voting with the song “Masters of Chant”, failing to make the Top 3 with 9.06% of the public vote.
Originally, Gregorian was conceived as a more pop-oriented group in the vein of Enigma. Under this concept, Peterson together with Matthias Meissner and Thomas Schwarz, recorded the 1991 album Sadisfaction, with lead vocals provided by The Sisters of Oz: Susana Espelleta (Peterson’s wife at the time) and Birgit Freud. However, this was the only album by the trio in that style.
In 1998, Peterson and his team of Jan-Eric Kohrs, Michael Soltau and Carsten Heusmann re-invented the project to perform popular songs in the Gregorian style. The criteria for song selection were strict; in order to be considered, a song needed to be translatable into the 7-tone scale. For each album, songs were carefully chosen in addition to original songs written by Jan-Eric Kohrs, Amelia Brightman and Carsten Heussman. Twelve vocalists – previously acclaimed session and choir singers – were then hired to record the tracks.
Each Gregorian album was initially digitally tracked at Nemo Studios, Peterson’s Hamburg studio. The vocalists then record their parts in a church atmosphere with dimmed lights and candles, in order to escape what Peterson referred to in a 2001 interview as the “cold and technical” studio atmosphere.
The concept proved to be successful, and the group proceeded to record several more albums in the same style as Masters of Chant. Known as the ten “Chapters”, said album releases primarily featured covers of well-known or popular songs (ex. Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight”, Alphaville’s “Forever Young”; Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”, etc.) done in the group’s chant-inspired style,[1] though occasionally the group would release original compositions as well.[3] Their 2004 album, The Dark Side, was a slight departure from the others, featuring a darker repertoire; similarly, the group has released themed albums such as the Christmas-themed Christmas Chants, another dark-repertoire album with The Dark Side of the Chant (2010), and the themed Epic Chants (2012). In 2005, The Masterpieces, a compilation album accomanied by a live DVD, was released.
Gregorian has toured parts of Europe, China, Russia and Japan; according to one report, the band has performed over 3,000 concerts in 106 countries to 12 million fans.[3] Live concert DVDs have also been released.
Gregorian has released ten albums in their Masters of Chant series and a number of other albums, including a Christmas album and several compilations. They have also released two types of video album; live concerts and music video albums featuring the singers in various surroundings. (wikipedia)
Gregorian sounds what can i say about it, these type of music gives a new meaning to music. A hint of church acoustics with a modern twist in the songs that are being used. Classic songs that are brought in a new way to the world. It’s gives you rest to your body and soul. (by Anne Meinema)
Gregorian is a German rock band, who performs covers of popular songs and original material in the Gregorian chant style. That being said, if you are looking for traditional Gregorian chants, this may not be for you. If you enjoy great music that is performed by musicians who really know their craft, and are open to something different, you will enjoy Gregorian.. The music is soothing and relaxing. The cover of Unheilig’s “Geboren zu Leben” sung in English as “Born to Fell Alive” is simply amazing. The album”Dark Side of the Chant” is a more up tempo collection from other Gregorian works.This album includes a unique and enjoyable cover of ACDC’s ” Hell’s Bells” I believe this cover rivals the original. Overall, this album is a solid piece of work. (by Johann der Deutscher)
Well, I like Gregorian chants, so I can actually live with this modernisation quite well. And putting compositions by Carl Orff, Tim Rose and Ac/DC on an album is really clever.
However, I find the fuss about her outfit silly and ridiculous, to say the least.
Personnel:
Gregorian Tenors:
Andy Busher – Paul Badley – Johnny Clucas, – Stevie Jeffes, – Rob Johnston – Matt Long – Gary O’Beirne – Ashley Turnell
Gregorian Basses:
Richard Collier – Rob Fardell – Simon Grant – Chris Tickner – Lawrence White
Additional Vocals:
Amelia Brightman – Anna Lena Strasse – Anette Stangenberg – Holly Kedrowski – Alannah Myles – Fernando Lima Additional Vocals
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keyboards + programming:
Carsten Heusman – Jan-Eric Kohrs – Alex Pfeffer, – Toni Pintos
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Carl Albrecht (keyboards, programming, guitar)
Alex Grube (bass)
Reiner ‚Kallas‘ Hubert (drums)
Jan-Peter Köpfel (trumpet)
Gunther Laudahn (keyboards, programming, guitar, flute, piano harp)
Peter Weihe (guitar)
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violin:
Stefan Pintev – Rodrigo Reichel
cello:
Charlotte Kracht – Boris Machin
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Mädchenchor Hamburg (Children’s Choir) unter der Leitung von Hesa Werhahn
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whispered voices
Lina, Robert & Max Heusmann
Musical director: Frank Peterson
Tracklist:
01. O Fortuna (Orff) 4.21
02. Stripped (Gore) 4.09
03. All I Need (d.Adel/Westerholt) 5.40
04. Hells Bells (A.Young/M.Young/Johnson) 5.42
05. Born To Feel Alive (Geboren um zu leben) (Der Graf/Verlage) 4.25
06. Morning Dew (Dobson/Rose) 5.17
07. My Heart Is Burning Gregorian (Peterson/Laudahn) 6.58
08. Bring Me To Life (Hodges/Lee/Moody) 5.31
09. Dark Side (Brightman/Kohrs/Heusmann) 5.04
10. Frozen (Madonna/Leonard) 6.07
11. Black Wings (Brightman/Heusmann) 4.18
12. Lucifer (Parsons/Woolfson) 4.30
13. Dark Angel (Laudhan) 4.06
The official website:
ManyFantasticColors 