CLASSICAL MUSIC: Salve Festa Dies, Baby

Never before on the charts in 1,300 years, Gregorian chant has suddenly become America's newest pop-music phenomenon

It may have been superseded by pious folk-rock in the Roman Catholic churches that gave it birth, but the ethereal, sinuous style of monophonic singing known as Gregorian chant is still alive and well, thank you. In the year's biggest musical surprise, a recording of Gregorian melodies sung by Benedictine monks from the abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos in Spain has suddenly become a monster hit. Issued, appropriately enough, by Angel, Chant has sold more than 220,000 copies in its first two weeks of release. The album is already No. 1 on the classical charts as well as 47 in...

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