Welcome

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The Schola in the choir loft at the historic chapel of Milton Manor House in Oxfordshire.

The Schola Abelis is an all-male schola dedicated to singing Gregorian Chant, especially the Mass Proper; we are occasionally joined by the Newman Consort, which dedicated to singing Renaissance polyphony, especially settings of the Mass Ordinary. 

Gregorian Chant: we don't expect anyone to have previous experience of singing Gregorian Chant, so please don't be put off. If you can pitch a note and carry a melody, we will teach you the rest. Unlike the polyphonists who sometimes join us, the Schola is all male, since Chant needs to be sung at a single pitch. It varies in size from four to about ten. See more on the Chant page.

The services we sing at are Catholic Masses, and occasionally Vespers or Compline, using the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. It was for services in this tradition that the pieces we sing were composed, and it was to serve the increasing number of such Masses that the Society was created: see the page on 'Liturgical Setting'.

In addition to singing 'Gregorian' Chant, once a term we sing from the Dominican books. Dominican chant has its own musical character and some idiosyncrasies in how it is set out.


Interested in Joining?


We welcome singers of all faiths and none, from within the University and from the Town. Please contact us!

oxfordgregorianchant@gmail.com

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The Schola at Blackfriars, in St Giles, Oxford