Eyes closed, with the music of Cappella Romana filling a Greek-columned church with an orchestra of sound, it's easy to imagine you are in medieval times. The nine members of Cappella Romana performed at the stained glass-filled Holy Rosary Church on Jan. 13, bringing the evocative chants of the ancient Mediterranean to Seattle.

A combination of traditional hymn and the mysticism of the Byzantine Empire, Cappella Romana has presented its program, Mt Sinai: Frontier of Byzantium, to sold out audiences in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Using authentic manuscripts from St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai, Egypt, this a cappella group brings emotion to sixth-century Greek chants that haven't been heard for more than 500 years.

The bold combinations of voices form perfect harmonies, the chants infused with dramatic overtones of melancholy. Unlike the monotone one expects of chanting, Cappella Romana presents its repertoire with spirited and fluctuating melodies, capturing the emotions of love, pain, longing and reverence. The rich, mythical chords could easily form the soundtrack to movies like Gladiator or Lord of the Rings.

The chants of Cappella Romana are laced with powerful silences, as the imposing volume occasionally, suddenly decrescendos to one lingering voice, then quiet. Unlike the insignificant silences between CD track changes, the sudden, momentary absence of sound becomes part of the music; the flicker of silence leaving the audience tense, expectant, and utterly captivated.

Continually touring, Cappella Romana will return to Seattle on April 22 to perform similar music in its program, Radiant Cloud: Choral Music in the Byzantine Tradition. With eight CDs already released, established fans –— or those intrigued by a dramatic rebirth of traditional chants –— can purchase their compilations at cappellaromana.org.

Applauded with a standing ovation, members of Cappella Romana filed out of the church still singing, their voices naturally fading, the echoing chords lingering and mingling with fervent clapping.

— Michelle Hope Anderson

arts@thedaily.washington.edu.