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It is likely that in other countries where faith has never been banned, the Gregorian music has never been forgotten either, but generally speaking, the Gregorian music has been neglected in other places of the world, as well. In fact, starting with the late Middle Ages it was increasingly left to oblivion. There are several objective reasons explaining this trend, like the development of the polyphonic music and rhythm. Only in the second part of the 19th century, the Gregorian music experienced its revival parallel to the renewal of monasteries. As we know, during the Napoleon times, monasteries were abolished. There were monks who rediscovered ancient books and manuscripts and acknowledged them as a great value and an essential part of their identity. In the 19th century serious research on Gregorian music began in France at the Benedictine monastery of Solesmes. Eugene Cardine is considered to be the best-known teacher of all the acknowledged authorities of the Gregorian music nowadays. The Second Vatican Council established the Gregorian music as a church standard.
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