Upon The Chant

CURRENDE
Emilie De Voght & Renate Weytjens soprano
Agnes de Graaff & Kerlijne Van Nevel mezzosoprano
Michiel Haspeslagh & Hans Helsen tenor
Reinhard Andries baritone
Arnout Malfliet bass
Erik Van Nevel conductor

UPON THE CHANT The beautiful Gregorian melodies of the most important liturgical moments of the year were provided with a challenging arrangement for mixed voices by Erik Van Nevel. He has scrupulously maintained their melodical and rhythmical form of the original lines. They appear always in one of the four voices. There has been no obstinate search for a new tonal speech. The music contains influences of various natures. By combining modal and tonal colors, the pieces have attained an individual, sonorous, sometimes surprising individuality. The well-known Gregorian melodies from, among others, Dies Irae, In Paradisum, Rorate Caeli, Hodie Christus Natus Est, Victimae Paschali Laudes, Gaudeamus, Ave Maria, and many others are included in the collection.

Currende’s concert programs mainly include music from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. About 40 CDs were produced with that repertoire. Sporadically, some Gregorian repertoire has also been placed between the polyphonic pieces. Sometimes this was provided with a polyphonic setting by conductor Erik Van Nevel in order to create a special timbre and atmosphere in the concerts. Stimulated by a few singers, the initiative was taken to bundle and publish the music and to realize a CD recording of it. The scores of Upon the Chant are all edited by EUPRINT.