Gregorian-The Gift (vs.Sarah Brightman)
Gregorian是由12位浸淫于教堂音乐与合声风格,拥有深厚古典基础,并在英国伦敦乐界有一定地位的演唱家所组成。其制作人FrankPeterson曾是Enigma的一员,知名作品有很多:Enigma的和,SarahBrightman的<Time to Say Goodbye>等等。正因如此,我们常常可以在他们的作品中听到与Enigma如出一辙的配器和编曲,而SarahBrightman更是数次在作品中献声,为专辑平添几分光彩。在此有必要介绍一下所谓的"Gregorian Chant"。这是在罗马天主教会的正式礼拜仪式中所唱的圣歌,起源于中世纪的罗马天主教会。当时有位教宗叫格林高利一世(Gregorius Magnus,任职期间公元590~604),他曾将这些圣歌编辑成册,因此后世人称其为“格林高利圣歌”。Gregorian Chant具有以下特征:歌词全是拉丁文,是无伴奏、无和声的单一旋律线,节奏非常自由,采用不同于“大小调系统”的调式音阶,同时还具有客观的、非个人的与超世俗的性质。这种圣歌音乐与礼拜仪式密不可分,它们可算是“功能性的音乐”,亦即具有特殊功用的音乐,不具娱乐价值。它们主要旨在表达歌词的宗教内涵,而不注重官能美感或情感诉求。但有趣的是,中世纪许多俗乐与民谣却改编自格林高利圣歌的曲调。
本曲《The Gift》选自 Gregorian 的专辑《Masters Of Chant Chapter IV》,是 Sarah Brightman 与 Gregorian 合作的一首精彩完美之作。歌中男女对唱那么的吸引人,象在诉说一个爱情故事,感觉给人一种心灵上的回访。在月光如此媚惑的夜晚,听着 The Gift 尽情的捕捉有爱的那些美好时光吧,那是神赋予我们最好的礼物。
Forgive is a word I am learning
If only to pass the time
I love you for all your weakness
I love you for all your lies
Will you grow
Will you understand
The damage you caused in time
The past is behind we are facing
A punishment for the crime
The gift you gave me
Our sweet encounter
Became so fragile and flew with the night
I will be witness
I will not falter
Till we are risen again to the light
Would you forgive me
My heart was broken
But I will mend I will be as before
Just give me one chance
To make it better
Uhh let me be yours
Without you I'm weak and I'm listless
Without you I find I'm blind
I watch you alone, are you dreaming
Of happines left behind
Do you drift in your heart at night
Walk through the rooms of your mind
Open the door I'll be waiting
Remember this is your life