Carolingia - Defend Us In Battle (CD)

Presale - Expected to ship September 29

Defend Us In Battle was conceived in 2021. The chants gathered here were not chosen for aesthetic beauty alone - though that beauty is real and deliberate. They were chosen for their proven power as prayer, to lift the heart and mind of man to God, and to drive away demonic spirits who hate the Word of God and the beauty which reflects and praises Him.

Two tracks bear special mention.
Sancte Michael Archangele - the first track - is the famous prayer to St Michael the Archangel, whose text was written by Pope Leo XIII. The melody was composed - and sung - by Mr Jasper, drawing prayerful inspiration from St Hildegard von Bingen and a variety of other Mode I chants.

O Cruor Sanguinis, composed by St Hildegard von Bingen, was left by her musically incomplete. Mr Jasper completed it by drawing melodic passages from her other chants of the same mode so that the finished melody, though gathered by another hand, remains entirely her own.

Lastly, the hymn "Te Joseph Celebrent" was composed in the 17th century. As such, it's original performance practice would have been much different from the way it is sung in this album. The reason for singing it the way we did was twofold: 1. We find it beautiful in its own way, 2. It fits the character of the rest of the album.

Sincere thanks to all the singers who contributed to this album, to Spokane Productions, to all the early adopters who made this possible by their prayers and financial support and, of course, above all, thanks be to God, Our Lady, St Michael and all the angels and saints in heaven.