Gregorian Chant: The Eternal Song
By Cantor
Listening
Two weeks ago, I was sitting in Sunday Eucharist felling quite preoccupied. I found myself chanting more out of rote than with my heart engaged. The schola that was chanting the service was doing a lovely job and I really wanted to listen but had a hard time doing so.
The time came for the Gradual. The text that morning referred to Christ. Suddenly – it seemed to me – I was hearing the musical motive from the opening of the famous Christmas Eve chant introit, Dominus dixit ad me. That gentle chant for Christmas eve was now a trumpet call in my ear.
At that moment, I felt that God had reached straight through that chant, tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Remember that I am right here”. God had regained my attention and it changed that entire worship service for me! Once again, the chant was God’s own voice, calling me to listen.
