The tradition of the Gregorian chant is very old; since apostolic times it has become the most widely dispersed religious chant and represents the spiritual heritage that continues through many centuries up until and including its use in the very active centres of monastic life and theological and musical studies of St Gallen, Fulda, Nonantola, and Montecassino.

The choir founded and directed by Master Giovanni Vianini, adopts the re-established style of the Gregorian tradition of the Benedictine Abbey of Solesmes, and thanks to their research on Ambrosian traditions, we are offered a pure and simple interpretation, faithful to its origins.

The choir is composed of two groups of about 20 members each: the feminine Schola and the male Schola. They sing together in the liturgy of this Mass, recorded at the Chiaravalle Abbey of Milan, an historical monastery founded in 1135 by Cistercian monks from Cîteaux, on behalf of Bernard of Clairvaux. The church was painted during the Renaissance by several famous painters, mainly Bernardino Luini, and it is in this extraordinary setting that you can listen to and admire the Gregorian plainsong.

The structure of the concert “Dominus Illuminatio Mea” is linked to the structure of the Sunday Mass in Ambrosian Rite: a praise to Lord “Te sanctum Dominum”, the introductory piece when the priest approaches the altar “Dominus Illuminatio Mea – Ps. 26”, the penitential act “Kyrie – Christe from the ‘Missa de Angelis’ of the XII Century”, the proclamation “Dirigatur oratio mea – Ps 140, 2”, the offering parts “Alleluja – Benedictus qui venit – Ps. 117” , “Exaltabo Te – Ps.29, 2-3” and “Sanctus - ‘Missa de Angelis’ ”, the Eucharistic moments “Agnus Dei- ‘Missa de Angelis’ ” and “Illumina faciem Tuam – Ps. 30, 17-18”, and the final parts “Narrabo omnia mirabilia – Ps. 9, 2-3”, Ite Missa est - ‘Missa de Angelis’ ”,  and finally “Salve Regina” and “Jesu dulcis”, both by Bernard of Clairvaux.