I’ve really enjoyed my Throwback Weekends, especially when I get the chance to dig into the hits of the 50s and 60s. The farther I throw back, the more interesting the results.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to throw way back this month… as in 9th century Europe. Today marks the beginning of a monthlong deep dive into the fascinating world of Gregorian chants.

Most of these selections run an hour or more, so I appreciate your patience as I embark on what I hope will be a thoughtful and illuminating journey.

Four weeks from now, I will count down my ten favorite Gregorian chants, and I suspect today’s selection — by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos — stands a good chance of making that list.

This 1994 recording, titled Chant, is the best-selling album of Gregorian chants ever released, going double platinum and reaching #2 on the Billboard 200.

Recorded between the 1970s and 80s in Madrid, it finds… ok, I’ll stop there. Happy April Fools Day! This music is pretty nice, though.