YouCAN CHANT RETREAT

25 Jan 2022

A group of ten young adults associated with YouCAN (Young Catholic Adult Network) came to Downside last weekend for a retreat based around the practice and theory of Gregorian Chant.

The retreat began with Dom Leo’s session on the Psalms, considering how we pray the Psalms and their role in the Divine Office, with a particular focus on Psalm 109 (110). Then Dom Anselm launched into ideas about the centrality of the Divine Office and the significance of singing and his conviction that most chant is very singable before the following sessions looked at the practicalities of reading and singing the music for the Office and for Mass.

The group sang with hesitation at first, but grew in confidence, learning to sing the Alma Redemptoris Mater, Kyrie and Gloria I and Credo I, with an introduction to Mode VII for Psalm 109.

Dom Anselm expressed a hope that a few parishes around the country will be resounding with the dulcet tones of the plainchant Mass settings! Who knows?