The title of this album, Kyrie: Chant for Quiet Meditation, is not an entirely accurate description of its contents. Chant refers specifically to vocal music, and generally to plainchant, that most often has a single line (sometimes with an added drone note) sung as a solo, or by an ensemble in unison. This album includes some tracks of solo and unison singing, but also a large number of polyphonic pieces -- music with several independent voices -- sometimes played by an instrumental ensemble, and sometimes with instruments and voices together. Most of the 33 tracks are very short, so there is a lot of stopping and starting, and switching back and forth between vocal and instrumental music, some of which is so active that it's hard to imagine it being conducive to conventional meditation practices. The album may not be what it purports to be, but if one takes it simply as a collection of Medieval vocal, choral, and instrumental liturgical works, it's highly successful. It does indeed consist almost entirely of Kyries, largely of English origin, but also including works from a variety of continental sources. Vocal ensemble
the Oxford Clerkes is top notch, singing with clarity, purity, and unmannered simplicity, and instrumental ensemble Le Basile plays an intriguing assortment of instruments with engaging spontaneity. The sound is warm and nicely resonant. The album should appeal to fans of early music who actually intend to listen to the fine performances, rather than use it as a backdrop for meditation.