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Passion Chant

by Chantronique

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about

Gregorian chant and cathedral acoustics have gone hand in hand for over a thousand years: simple vocal melodies are stretched out and turn into harmony, overtones, polyphony, and an unhurried, reflective kind of storytelling.

Adding a surreal ambient bed of electronica to this tradition is the brainchild of vocalist, Ryland Angel, and studio sonic artist, David Merrill. Together they update sacred chant for the 21st century.

“Passion Chant” takes the listener on a meditative journey through the stations of the cross – the events leading up to the crucifixion – according to St. Luke. Over a bed of ambient electronica, the solo voice recounts the Passion of Christ, at times both haunting and soothing. The warm, modal melodies, couched in traditional Gregorian chant techniques, are wrapped in an ever-changing sonic tapestry, creating a timeless, expansive place to relax and contemplate.

The peaceful and immersive experience can be enjoyed by anyone with a few moments to spare and a willingness to bask in the eternal present.

Grammy-nominated British vocalist and composer, Ryland Angel, is an acclaimed soloist, who has appeared on over 80 recordings as well as in concert halls, cathedrals and on opera stages throughout the world.

New York-based audio engineer, composer, instrumentalist, and producer extraordinaire David Merrill has appeared most recently with his fellow sonic sculpture painter, David Lawson, on their album “Signals” (Neuma 157).

lyrics

St. Luke’s Stations Of the Cross:

[The First Station: Jesus before Pilate]
The assembly of the elders of the people rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered, "You say so." Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man." But they were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place."

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate.

[The Second Station: Jesus takes up his cross]
Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!" (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!"
A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him." But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.
So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

[The Third Station: Jesus falls for the first time]
Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?
“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

[The Fourth Station: Jesus meets his Mother]
Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

[The Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene]
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
[The Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus]
While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”

[The Seventh Station: Jesus falls a second time]
While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.”
But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

[The Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem] A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
[The Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time]
Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.”

[The Tenth Station: the division of robes]
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

[The Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross]
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

[The Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross] It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last.

[The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the cross]
And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

[The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb]
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.
While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?
He is not here, but has risen.
Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”
Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.
Now it was Mary Magdalen, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, stooping and looking in , he saw the linen clothes by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

credits

released February 21, 2023
Chantronique:
Ryland Angel, voice and David Merrill, sonics

Many thanks to Graeme Napier for compiling the text.

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Chantronique New York, New York

Grammy-nominated British vocalist and composer, Ryland Angel, is an acclaimed soloist, who has appeared in concert halls, cathedrals and on opera stages throughout the world.
New York-based audio engineer, composer, instrumentalist, and producer extraordinaire David Merrill has appeared most recently with his fellow sonic sculpture painter, David Lawson, on their album “Signals”
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