St. Gregory and the Gregorian Music

This work paints a vivid portrait of the man who would become known as Gregory the Great, following his journey from a privileged Roman household to the cloister of St. Andrew’s on the Caelian Hill. It recounts his early career as a Roman praetor, his diplomatic missions to Constantinople, and the moment he turned away from political power to seek a monastic life, all set against the turmoil of Lombard invasions and a city beset by famine and pestilence.

Beyond biography, the book explores the birth of the chant tradition that now bears his name. Drawing on a range of medieval sources, it links Gregory’s missionary enthusiasm—particularly his fascination with the Angles—to the spread of plainchant across Europe. The author weaves together historical narrative, musicological insight, and finely reproduced illustrations, offering listeners a clear, engaging window onto a pivotal era of church and cultural history.