Uploaded October 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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A public domain recording of Gregorian chant (meant to be sung without instrumental accompaniment), harmonized on a sequential Prophet Rev2 synthesizer. Typically Gregorian chant is sung in a very fluid tempo and rhythm, making it more of a challenge to add accompaniment. While perhaps controversial to some, the combination of old music and modern instruments for me adds an extra dimension to the music, making us hear the music in a completely different way, sometimes bringing out different notes than you might notice when listening to the singing alone.

"Terra Tremuit" is an offertory motet for Easter Day. Text is Psalm 76(75) vs. 9-10.
Latin Lyrics: Terra tremuit et quievit dum resurgeret in judicio Deus, alleluia.
Translation: The earth trembled and calmed down when God arose in judgment, alleluia.

The score in neume notation can be found in the "Graduale Romanum" - a book (or should I say THE book?) that collects Gregorian chants. You can browse a version online here: media.musicasacra.com/pdf/graduale1961.pdf. The score for Terra Tremuit appears on page 243.

The public domain recording of the chant was reused from commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antifona_Terra_Tremuit_mIV.ogg.
The associated info attributes the composition to William Byrd, although I have serious doubts whether this is correct since all scores I found by Byrd contain a very different setting (both melody and harmony) of this piece.

The thumbnail is based on a public domain image pxhere.com/en/photo/904969