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.
Hymn
Gregorian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See God you've got to move to the other side.
You stand up there with your head in the clouds, don't try
To fly you know you might not come down.
Don't try to fly, dear God, you might not come down.
Jesus came down from Heaven to earth
The People said it was a virgin birth
Jesus came down from Heaven to earth
He told great stories of the Lord
And said he was the saviour of us all
He told great stories of the Lord
And said he was the saviour of us all
For this they we killed him,
Nailed him up high
He rose again as if to ask us why
Then he ascended in top the sky
As if to say in God alone you soar
As if to say in God alone we fly.
Valley's deep and the mountains so high, if you want to
See God you've got to move to the other side.
You stand up there with your head in the clouds, don't try
To fly you know you might not come down.
Don't try to fly, dear God, you might not come down
The song "Hymn" by Gregorian has deep and metaphorical lyrics that take the listeners on a spiritual journey. The opening lines of the song, "Valley's deep and the mountains so high, if you want to see God, you've got to move to the other side," almost suggest that to truly comprehend the divine, one has to undergo a difficult journey that requires determination and patience. The lyrics imply that the quest for enlightenment is not easy and straightforward, rather it requires one to leave their comfort zone and journey towards the unknown.
The following lines, "You stand up there with your head in the clouds, don't try to fly you know you might not come down," suggest that sometimes people may have false illusions about their faith or beliefs. Gregorian is urging people not to become too complacent or arrogant while trying to reach the divine. Instead, the key is to remain grounded, yet steadfast on this journey. The song then takes a more literal turn, as it talks about Jesus coming down from heaven to earth who told stories of the Lord and revealed himself as the savior of humanity. The song suggests that those who followed Jesus were persecuted and crucified, but he rose again and ascended into the skies, as if to say that our eternal home is with God.
The song has deep symbolic and metaphoric lyrics, but it ultimately suggests that the journey to find God is an important one, which requires patience, humility, and determination. The song reminds us that real victories come when we can conquer our own doubts and fears and embrace our true nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Valley's deep and the mountains so high, if you want to See God you've got to move to the other side.
If you want to truly understand and connect with God, you have to push past the obstacles and challenges before you.
You stand up there with your head in the clouds, don't try To fly you know you might not come down.
It's easy to get lost in your own thoughts and lofty ideas, but be mindful not to get so caught up that you lose touch with reality and the potential consequences.
Jesus came down from Heaven to earth The People said it was a virgin birth
According to the Christian faith, Jesus Christ was born to a virgin named Mary and he came to Earth as a divine being in human form.
He told great stories of the Lord And said he was the saviour of us all
Jesus was a skilled and profound teacher who shared stories and messages about God's love and salvation for all people.
For this they were killed him, Nailed him up high He rose again as if to ask us why
Despite his teachings of peace and love, Jesus was put to death by his enemies. However, he then rose from the dead, which was a powerful statement about the never-ending nature of God's grace and strength.
Then he ascended in top the sky As if to say in God alone you soar
After Jesus came back to life, he eventually ascended to heaven. This act demonstrated the truth that humans can only achieve true spiritual fulfillment through God.
Valley's deep and the mountains so high, if you want to See God you've got to move to the other side.
This line is repeated as a reminder that understanding and experiencing God requires effort and persistence, just like climbing a tall mountain or crossing a deep valley.
Don't try to fly, dear God, you might not come down.
This line is repeated as a warning not to get too far ahead of oneself or too confident in one's own abilities when it comes to spiritual matters. It's important to stay grounded and humble.
Lyrics © MUSIC & MEDIA INT'L, INC., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lees
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Magda Zambrzycka
Absolutely magical voice of Edward Hands, great light on stage and the greatest band in the world !!! can you ask for more? 😇🥰😍❤
Mariela Lezcano
Me fascinan estos cantos son bellos 😉👍
Julia Green
One of my favourites ❤, it is so evocative and uplifting, especially after a stressful week. I love the harmonies and how the crescendo builds to a fortissimo at the end. Truly exquisite 👌! 💗⚘💕💐💝🌷💞🙏💓🥰🇬🇧
James Sullivan
Glorious and triumphant! Never saw so many gifted performers on one stage.
MENSAGENS DE FÉ
Sensacional! Vozes do céu...
exton 21
Simply Stunning! Amazzzingly Wonderful. Gloria in Exchelsis Deo
Ricardo cabeleireiro André
Isso é música linda maravilhosa que Deus abençoe a todos
Julita Amorim
Maravilhoso, magnífico,sensacional,lindo demais lava a alma da gente tô encantada
summer 1975
I really love Gregorian band, they are so unique wth an angelic voice😘🙏😇..
luiza zampieri
Isso que é música! Relaxante e inspiradora!!!!👍👏👏