Gregorian Chant from a place where it belongs and is used for its proper purpose day by day. The community say:

Christopher Walker produced this CD. He is a well-known church composer and conductor and is based in Los Angeles. His own most recent liturgical work was for the Dedication of the new Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.

Our sound engineer was Richard Jeffrey-Gray of Hoxa. He did a fantastic job of picking up the wonderful acoustics of the abbey Church giving a beautiful quality to the recording. Richard is also head of the Music Service of Clifton Cathedral. While putting the finishing touches to the CD he was writing the the music for the touchdown of the last ever flight of Concorde - Silver Bird!

This recording celebrates the music and spirituality of Abbot Alan Rees, still sadly missed by the Belmont Community following his tragic death in 2005.

Dom Alan was many things: organist and musician, spiritual guide, man of prayer and father to a monastic community. He will be remembered as a composer who made a tremendous contribution to the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Those who listen to this recording will surely sense something of Alan's gentle and prayerful spirit.

The music ranges from his evocative Antiphons to the Blessed Virgin Mary, written in the tradition of Gregorian Chant, to his more rousing hymn tunes that reflect the Welsh hymn-singing tradition.

Particularly powerful is his music for Holy Week: the prayer of community life, Where is Love, the motet Una Ora of Gethsemane, and his dramatic Reproaches that echo the pain of Christ on the Cross. But there is much joy too in his communion song Take my Life, and his Song for Pentecost.

At the heart of the recording are English settings of the four Lady Antiphons (the Salve Regina, Regina Caeli, Alma and Ave Regina) which are particular favourites of the Community.

Also included on this CD is a setting by Christopher Walker of one of Alan's published prayers, May the Mind of Jesus. Christopher produced this recording and was the motiviating force behind this CD so that the legacy of Dom Alan could be more widely appreciated.

The Poor Clares of Arundel, known by many as the nuns on The Convent television programme also conributed some distinctive pieces, including the Farewell Alleluia to be sung after Compline on Shrove Tuesday.

Many friends contributed to the production including Stasio Sliwka the Organist, and the sound-recordist Richard Jeffrey-Gray.

The community hope this recording will be a lasting tribute to Dom Alan.

Chris Northam has helped at many of our liturgies with piano, conducting and voice.

A pianist of exquisite quality and musicianship, Chris has chosen to share his gift with children and adults starting the instrument.

"Get yourself a copy." (Paul Riley of Classic CD and Venue magazines.

The Lochrian ensemble play on our Cathedral Voices and And I Saw a New Heaven cds.

Their debut album Lochrian Lollipops is a selection of popular tracks from Gershwin's "Summertime" to Joplin Rags in superb string quartet arrangements.

Listen to and enjoy their mixture of relaxing de-stressers and show�stopping foot tappers!