Gregorian is a German band headed by Frank Peterson that performs Gregorian… Read Full Bio ↴Gregorian is a German band headed by Frank Peterson that performs Gregorian chant-inspired versions of modern pop and rock songs. The band features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment.

Originally, Gregorian was conceived as a more pop-oriented group in the vein of Enigma. Under this concept, they recorded the 1991 album Sadisfaction, with lead vocals provided by The Sisters of Oz: Susana Espelleta (Peterson's wife at the time) and Birgit Freud. However, this was the only album in that style.

In 1998, Peterson and his team Jan-Eric Kohrs, Michael Soltau and Carsten Heusmann re-invented the project to perform popular songs in the Gregorian style. The criteria for song selection were strict; in order to be considered, a song needed to be translatable into the 7-tone scale. For each album, songs were carefully chosen in addition to original songs written by Jan-Eric Kohrs, Amelia Brightman and Carsten Heussman. Twelve vocalists - previously acclaimed session and choir singers - were then hired to record the tracks.

Each Gregorian album is initially digitally tracked at Nemo Studios, Peterson's Hamburg studio. The vocalists then record their parts in a church atmosphere with dimmed lights and candles, in order to escape what Peterson referred to in a 2001 interview as the "cold and technical" studio atmosphere.

The concept proved to be successful, and the group proceeded to record several more Masters of Chant albums in the same style. Their 2004 album, The Dark Side, was a slight departure from the others, featuring a darker repertoire consistent with the title.

In 2005, The Masterpieces, a compilation album with a live DVD, was released. A fifth Masters of Chant album was released on 31 March 2006. In 2006, a festive album was also released, titled Christmas Chants. A sixth Masters of Chant album was released on 28 September 2007. In 2009 a seventh Masters of Chant album followed.
Gregorian in 2009

On 8 September 2010 the next album, titled The Dark Side of Chant, was announced to be published on 15 October 2010.

The members of the Gregorian choir group are Richard Naxton (Naxos), Johnny Clucas (Johnny), Chris Tickner (Chris T.), Richard Collier (Rich), Gerry O'Beirne (Gerry), Lawrence White (Lorro) and Rob Fardell (Rob F.).

Others who contribute to the vocals or sound of Gregorian are Sarah Brightman (under the pseudonyms Hepsibah or Sarah Hellmann), Amelia Brightman (Sarah Brightman's younger sister), Frank Peterson, and staff of Nemo Studio among others.

Ding Dong
Gregorian Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ding dong merrily on high
In heav'n the bells are ringing
Ding dong verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

E'en so here below, below

Let steeple bells be swungen
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers

Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gregorian's "Ding Dong" evoke the joyousness of Christmas with its opening refrain, "Ding dong merrily on high." The song celebrates the ringing of the bells in heaven and the accompanying angelic singing. The chorus repeats the Latin phrase "Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!" which roughly means "Glory to God in the highest!" The song continues its celebration of the bells with the lines "Let steeple bells be swungen" and "Io, io, io!" which is a Latin cheer meaning "Hooray!" The song concludes with an exhortation to the bell-ringers and singers to perform their duties beautifully and dutifully.

The lyrics to "Ding Dong" are a modern-day arrangement of an old French traditional Christmas carol, "Les anges dans nos campagnes" (literally, "The Angels in Our Countryside"). The English lyrics were written in the 1920s by George Ratcliffe Woodward, an Anglican clergyman who contributed to many hymns and carols. The melody used by Gregorian is a tune called "Gloria," which was originally written by Théodore Dubois in the late 19th century. The combination of this familiar melody with the joyful, celebratory lyrics of "Ding Dong" has made the song a staple of Christmas music.

Line by Line Meaning

Ding dong merrily on high
Joyfully ring the bells with a delightful sound

In heav'n the bells are ringing
The heavenly bells ring with the joyous sound

Ding dong verily the sky
The sound of the bells echoes through the sky

Is riv'n with angel singing
Angels sing just as joyously, harmonizing with the bells

Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Let us sing praises to the highest heaven!

E'en so here below, below
Even here on earth, we too can join in the celebration

Let steeple bells be swungen
Ring the church bells loudly

And "Io, io, io!"
Shout with joy, "Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!"

By priest and people sungen
Let both the clergy and the faithful partake in the singing

Pray you, dutifully prime
Please make sure to ring the bells in accordance with your duty

Your matin chime, ye ringers
Let the bells for morning prayer ring out, bell-ringers