The renunciation of the wealth and splendour of the Benedictine order led to the founding of the Cistercians in 1098.The idea of the poverty and modesty of the new order quickly spread throughout Europe and led to the founding of many monasteries
The Cistercian reform not only affected the way of life of the monks and nuns, the retreat to remote places and a new simple architecture, the liturgy and music were also freed from "unnecessary ornamentation". To this day, the songs of the Cistercians radiate a contemplative, meditative simplicity.
This 3-CD box brings together three very different recordings of this music: CD1 presents a complete vespers from the monks' Liturgy of the Hours, with the chants for the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. CD2 is dedicated to St Bernard of Clairvaux, the great father of the Cistercian order. CD3 presents the chants of the Cistercian nuns, who (unlike their male brothers) spent their lives in complete seclusion behind the monastery walls. Their songs were audible to outsiders in the churches, but the female singers sang in the choir room, which was separated from the church, and were not visible to the outside world.
