St. Michael's Abbey is a community of Norbertine Canons Regular in Orange County, California. Its first members were Hungarian priests who escaped communism and settled in California in 1957. The community was raised to the status of an abbey in 1984, because of its growth. St. Michael's Abbey now numbers over 70 members.Singing at St. Michael's Abbey is nothing new. Learning sacred chant starts in the seminary and becomes part of the Norbertines daily life. Father Jerome Molokie of St. Michael's explains, "for the first two years after they enter, there is a daily chant class five days a week for about 45 minutes."
After all these centuries, the chants are still in use and retain their sacramental quality, their supple vigor, and the ability to dispose the soul for the contemplation of God and His Mysteries.
The eclectic selection on this album is a cross-section of music sung at the Abbey that includes chants from the liturgy as well as motets and music from the Renaissance era. The latter is sung on more solemn occasions like Easter, Pentecost, Christmas and the other great feasts of the liturgical year.
Tracks:
1. Tu Nobis Dona
(Palestrina) 2. Arbor Decora
(Palestrina) 3. Exultet
4. Qui Confidunt
5. Cantemus Domina
6. Vinea Facta Est
7. Laudate Dominum
8. Vinea Facta Est
9. Attende Coelum
10. Sicut Cervus
11. Ave Maria
(Palestrina) 12. Panis Angelicus
(Palestrina) 13. Spiritus Domini
14. Spiritus Sanctus
15. Veni Sancte Spiritus
16. Confirma Hoc
17. Factus Est Repente
18. Verbum Caro