Impact of Gregorian chant in the Christian liturgy

Abstract

High Mass celebrated at Westminster Cathedral, in Victoria, London, on Sunday 14th July 2002 served as an inspiration to further my research on the Impact of Gregorian Chant, in Liturgical celebrations. The angelic voices of Westminster choir boys, weaving through Gregorian Chant embellished by the beauty and fine art of classic polyphony, bathed the congregation present with waves of sound that raised everyone's heart towards heaven in a marvellous symphony of voices. The congregation, too, under the direction of a co-ordinator who acted as the link between the faithful and the choir, projected their voices in full participation. The booklets provided indicated the precise moments for the congregation to alternate with the choir which resulted in a continuous musical dialogue throughout the entire Eucharistic celebration. Thus, the combined effort of the celebrant with his strong clear voice chanting in perfect tune, the choir, the director and the organist, together with the faithful present, achieved the genuine purpose of Sacred Music, that is, "the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful", as they all participated in the highest form of human artistic endeavour, worthy of God and His worship.