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.
Time to Say Goodbye
Gregorian Lyrics
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Horizon and words fail me
There is no light in a room
Where there is no sun and there is no sun if
You're not here with me, with me
From every window unfurls my heart the
Heart that you have won
Into me you've poured the light
The side of the road
Time to say goodbye
Places that I've never seen
Or experienced with you now I shall
I'll sail with you upon
Ships across the seas
Seas that exist no more
It's time to say goodbye
When you're far away I dream of
The horizon and words fail me
And of course I know that you're with me
With me you, my moon, you are with me
My sun, you're here with me
With me, with me, with me
Time to say goodbye
Places that I've never seen
Or experienced with you now I shall
I'll sail with you upon
Ships across the seas
Seas that exist no more
Both i'll revive them with you
I'll go with you upon ships across the seas
Seas that exist no more
I'll revive them with you i'll go with you
You and me
The song "Time to Say Goodbye", originally titled "Con te partirò" (Italian for "With you I will leave") features Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and British soprano Sarah Brightman. The song was later adapted into English and performed by Gregorian in their album "Masters of Chant Chapter II" in 2001. The lyrics describe the feeling of missing someone who is not physically present and the hope of reuniting with them someday. The opening lines convey a sense of emptiness and helplessness when alone, without the person who brings light into their life. The use of "horizon" creates an image of longing and signifies the distance between the two lovers, whereas the image of "room" symbolizes the isolation of being apart. The line "from every window unfurls my heart" implies that the singer's love is all-encompassing and they are completely devoted to their lover. The lines "I'll sail with you upon ships across the seas, seas that exist no more" expresses their willingness to travel any distance, no matter how impossible it may seem, to be with their beloved. The lyrics "Both I'll revive them with you" and "I'll revive them with you I'll go with you" reinforce the idea that being with the person they love brings a sense of completeness and renewals to things that once felt lost and forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
When I'm alone I dream of the
Horizon and words fail me
Being alone makes me think of endless possibilities and opportunities, but I cannot seem to put them into words.
There is no light in a room
Where there is no sun and there is no sun if
You're not here with me, with me
Without your presence, life seems gloomy and bleak, just like a room without sunlight.
From every window unfurls my heart the
Heart that you have won
Into me you've poured the light
The light that you found by
The side of the road
Just like the rays of light illuminate every corner of a room, your love has illuminated every inch of my heart and soul.
Time to say goodbye
Places that I've never seen
Or experienced with you now I shall
I'll sail with you upon
Ships across the seas
Seas that exist no more
It's time to say goodbye
It is now time to let go and move on to new horizons, whether or not we have experienced them together. We will sail together to explore new, uncharted territories that we will make our own.
When you're far away I dream of
The horizon and words fail me
And of course I know that you're with me
With me you, my moon, you are with me
My sun, you're here with me
With me, with me, with me
Even when you are far away, thoughts of you ground me and give me hope that we will be reunited. You are my guiding light in the darkness, always with me.
I'll revive them with you i'll go with you
You and me
Together, we will breathe new life into lifeless places and moments, and embark on new adventures as a team.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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