Hartkeriana

View interior of Church in Malay where the Psalterium Project was recorded

To realize its goals the Psalterium Foundation has taken a Gregorian chant choir under its care and direction. Hartkeriana was established in 1994 by Prof. Eugeen Liven d’Abelardo with the purpose of singing Gregorian chant – with an emphasis on the office repertoire – to a professional standard. There is a huge diversity of musical genres, forms and style periods within the extensive chant repertoire of which only a small part finds use in the liturgy today. One reason for this is the often virtuosic and melismatic nature of much chant which demands high technical and vocal abilities in the singers. Furthermore, the rapidly evolving insights into performance practice have led to a need for more specialized music practitioners and in depth musicological study. Since the 1950s, primarily due to the extensive comparative manuscript study conducted by the Benedictine monk Dom Eugène Cardine OSB of the Abbaye St. Pierre de Solesmes, there has been a new rhythmic and melodic insight into Gregorian chant characterized as Gregorian semiology. The group is varyingly composed of six to ten male singers – each approaching the chant from a different background and perspective.  Each is instilled with a deep commitment to the preservation of the rich cultural heritage of the Gregorian chant repertoire.

Hartkeriana’s first recording was released in 1996 – a selection of Psalms of Praise and Penitence which have inspired many Gregorian Chant pieces – from daily antiphons to more elaborate matin responds and mass graduals and offertorias.   From September 2021 available online via Spotify.

The ambitious Psalterium Project was recorded by members of Hartkeriana in 9 weeklong recording sessions from May 2012 to May 2017. Several earlier recordings have been made including a double CD of the masses and office of St. John the Baptist with a female chant choir from Norway Schola Sanctae Sunnivae.

The management of Hartkeriana lies with the Psalterium Foundation. For information on engaging Hartkeriana for concerts/festivals, etc., please contact the Foundation via the Contact page on this site.

Chapel of Maria Magdelena

 

View from the south of church in Malay

 

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