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.

O Come All Ye Faithful
Gregorian Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him

Christ the Lord

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exaltation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above;
Glory to God
Glory In the highest:
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
Christ the Lord

O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
Christ the Lord

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing:
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
Christ the Lord

O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him

O come let us adore him
Christ the Lord.

Overall Meaning

The song “O Come, All Ye Faithful” is a traditional Christmas carol that invites all believers to come and worship Jesus Christ. The first verse calls on the faithful, asking them to come to Bethlehem and behold the King of Angels, who has been born to save the world. The song’s lyrics then shift focus to the choirs of angels who sing of Christ’s coming, calling on all citizens of heaven to join in their song and give glory to God. The last verse greets Jesus directly, praising him for coming in the flesh and inviting all those present to come and adore him.

The repeated refrain of “O come let us adore him” underscores the central message of the song – that the birth of Jesus is a call to all to come and worship. The song’s language, with its references to royalty, angels, and heaven, emphasizes the majesty and wonder of Christ’s coming, and the joy and triumph that believers can experience when they come to worship him.

Line by Line Meaning

O come all ye faithful
Come, all of you who have faith

Joyful and triumphant
Come with joy and triumph

O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
Come, come to Bethlehem

Come and behold him
See him with your own eyes

Born the King of Angels
The King of Angels has been born

O come let us adore him
Let us worship him

Christ the Lord
He is Christ the Lord

Sing, choirs of angels,
Angels, sing

Sing in exaltation,
Sing loudly and joyfully

Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above;
All the citizens of heaven, sing

Glory to God
Let us give glory to God