"Gregorian Chant for Advent & Christmas" contains some of the great pieces of Latin chant composed for Advent and Christmas during the early middle ages (c. 800 A.D.). In addition, Fr. Columba Kelly, O.S.B. has taken these chants and recreated them for English words. The early Latin chant, even in its most complex forms, served the meaning of the words. The sound, accent, and rhythm of the words formed the essential basis of this music. Fr. Columba has given these ancient chants a new life by wedding them to the words of new English texts. These new compositions allow English speaking audiences to appreciate the relationship between the music and the words. Very little of the music written for Advent has been recorded. This CD contains all of the justly famous "O" Antiphons which are sung at Vespers on the seven days before Christmas. Each antiphon, sung both in Latin and English, celebrates a title of the messiah. The first antiphon begins with "O Sapientia" that is "O Wisdom." (audio clip) The CD also features the great introits for the first three Sundays of Advent, the famous Vesper hymn, and the ever favorite "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" which is based on the "O" Antiphons. The Christmas section opens with the Solemn Proclamation of Christmas sung in the Archabbey Church at the beginning of First Vespers. Fr. Alaric, the present choirmaster, is cantor for this proclamation and also for a new composition by Fr. Columba used as the response at Midnight Mass. This new piece explores the most complex reaches of the chant tradition. The great introits for the Midnight Mass and the Day Mass of Christmas are exceptional pieces from the Gregorian repertoire. The first captures the quiet awe of midnight while the second trumpets the birth of a king. (audio clip) The Christmas hymns for Lauds and Vespers are particularly fine and are largely unknown. They deserve more recognition. The schola also sings the lovely medieval hymn "Of the Father"s Love Begotten." Various antiphons are woven together. Those for Christmas Lauds are particularly charming. The CD ends with the haunting communion chant for Epiphany and the Marian antiphon used for Advent and Christmas.