Chant and Psalms

Convent is a sacred vocal tradition centered on music sung by communities of nuns in Roman Catholic (and, at times, Eastern Christian) convents. The core repertoire comprises Gregorian chant and office hymns in Latin, sung in unison without instrumental accompaniment and shaped by the liturgical calendar. While fundamentally monophonic and modal, the sound world ranges from syllabic psalm tones to highly melismatic antiphons and responsories. From the Renaissance onward, some convents cultivated simple polyphony and, in Baroque Italy, even sophisticated multi-voice music written by cloistered women composers. Modern recordings typically feature a cappella female choirs in resonant chapels, emphasizing clarity of text, steady breath, and a contemplative, prayerful delivery.