(Re)discovering Gregorian Chant
When Louis-Marie Vigne founded the Chœur grégorien de Paris (Gregorian Choir of Paris) in 1974, the aim was to rediscover the Gregorian chant. A rich and beautiful musical art form dating back to the early Middle Ages, the Gregorian chant almost disappeared in the 19th century. After heroic research and preservation efforts at the Solesmes Abbey in France, the once-orally transmitted practice was rescued and returned to its previous splendor through painstaking musical transcriptions and recordings.
The choir is now one of the leading institutions carrying on the tradition of the Gregorian chant. Initially made up of young students, the group began Solesmes Abbey, receiving training from monks expert in Gregorian musicology and spirituality, such as Dom Eugène Cardine, Dom Jean Claire and Dom Jacques Hourlier. Over time, the choir’s dedication to the Latin liturgy in Parisian churches culminated in regular performances at Val-de-Grâce and later at the Chapelle des Lazaristes, where they now hold the Sunday 9 a.m. Mass. A women’s choir was also established, performing the same Mass at Saint-Sulpice. The Gregorian Choir of Paris breathes life into the Gregorian chant by regularly practicing the music at services, refusing to let the music fade into a historical artifact.
The Chœur grégorien de Paris is a true family of nations, having welcomed international choirmasters for thirty years from Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Colombia, South Korea, and Madagascar, places where the choir has developed a strong presence through institutional partnerships and international festivals.
Paris Gregorian Choir Tours and Discography
The choir is supported by the Amis du Chœur grégorien de Paris, a nonprofit organization founded in 1981 for the promotion of Gregorian chant. Together, they have organized global summits to share practices and knowledge of the Gregorian chant, including an International Gregorian Chant Conference in 1985, and a series of Gregorian Exchange events in 2011 at the Val-de-Grâce Abbey in Paris.
Their discography covers varied repertoires, including those for Christmas and the Holy Week, Cistercian melodies, and songs composed in honor of Saint Louis. Discover their music on streaming platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
The choir has toured extensively in 17 countries and 4 continents, from Norway, to South Korea, to Colombia, to Egypt, inspiring the study and practice of the Gregorian chant across the world. More recently, the choir also toured for the first time in the Philippines, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Now, they are finally headed to the United States.
US Tour: Experience the Divine Melodies
The main events will take place from October 23rd to November 1st:
- October 23rd : Morning Mass at the Parish of Saint-Louis de France at 10:30am
- October 24th: Concert at the North Bethesda United Methodist Church at 7pm
- October 25th: Concert in FJK Auditorium at St. John’s College of Annapolis MD at 7:30pm
- October 26th: Concert at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore at 7 pm
- October 27th: Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore at 11am
- October 27th: Concert at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, Bridgeport, PA at 7pm
- October 29th: Concert in the Chapel of Columbia University NY at 7 pm
- October 30th: Concert-conference at the Church of Notre Dame / Morningside Heights at 7 pm
- October 31st: All Saints Mass at the Church of Corpus Christi / Morningside Heights at 12:10 pm
The choir will engage with students at institutions such as St. John’s College in Annapolis and Columbia University to present their two-year program at the School of Gregorian Chant, established and led by the Chœur Grégorien de Paris.
The choir will be made up of thirty singers, both men and women, including several professional soloists. Featuring a diverse repertoire including polyphonies from the renowned School of Notre-Dame and timeless motets by Palestrina, this tour promises an unforgettable musical experience that resonates with the soul.
Your Support Keeps The Gregorian Chant Alive: Join Us in Preserving Tradition
The tour is the first part of the choir’s promotional project. The following two years will be dedicated to welcoming and training two students in Gregorian chant and choral conducting, whom the Chœur Grégorien de Paris hopes to recruit in the United States. A diploma will be awarded on completion of this training, making them fully accomplished Gregorian chant musicians ready to begin their own choral direction.
Friends of Fondation de France is proud to support the Amis du Chœur Grégorien de Paris in ensuring the Gregorian chant will live on for generations to come. Consider making a tax-deductible donation to support the choir’s tour and the training of future chanters and conductors. Your donations make it possible for students to dedicate themselves to the study and practice of this rich art form, and share the music with more American audiences in the future. Together, let us keep the transcendent tones of Gregorian chant alive and thriving.
