Indeed you're correct that gregorian chant is monophonic, so, strictly speaking, this isn't gregorian chant. However, Biebl most certainly used gregorian chant as an inspiration for the piece. The first 30 seconds or so are gregorian chant, and so are the solos. Thanks for bringing music theory into this with the great comment.

In reply to this comment by Diogenes:
beautiful

not sure about the 'gregorian chant' tag, though... this was a polyphonic performance - and if i'm remembering correctly, gregorian chant is/was monophonic

anyway, nice sift

Indeed you're correct that gregorian chant is monophonic, so, strictly speaking, this isn't gregorian chant. However, Biebl most certainly used gregorian chant as an inspiration for the piece. The first 30 seconds or so are gregorian chant, and so are the solos. Thanks for bringing music theory into this with the great comment.

>> ^Diogenes:
beautiful
not sure about the 'gregorian chant' tag, though... this was a polyphonic performance - and if i'm remembering correctly, gregorian chant is/was monophonic
anyway, nice sift

beautiful

not sure about the 'gregorian chant' tag, though... this was a polyphonic performance - and if i'm remembering correctly, gregorian chant is/was monophonic

anyway, nice sift

The Dies Irae is a very old and famous melody, dating back to the days of Gregorian Chant, some 8 centuries ago. It was the part of the Roman Catholic Mass dealing with death and judgment day. The melody is still used commonly as thematic material in *darker pieces of music. It's most famous setting was in a orchestral piece called Symphonie Fantasique by Hector Berlioz.

I was gonna jump all over the comment that Cash wrote this song, but apparently it's already been done, and is an old comment. but just for clarification:

Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor) written in 1994. Released on Downward Spiral.
Johnny Cash covered in 2002. Released on American IV: The Man Comes Around.

Reznor is most definitely the author of this song, and Cash is not the first to cover it either.

Tori Amos frequently sang three or four lines of the song as an introduction to other songs during her Dew Drop Inn tour in 1996, most frequently "Caught a Lite Sneeze", and then again in 1998, as an improvisational bridge.
Breaking Benjamin
Sheryl Crow covered the Cash version on the television special Tribute to Johnny Cash.
Fightstar
Matthew Good, acoustic tour 2006.
Gregorian arranged the lyrics into a medieval Gregorian chant.
Kermit the Frog is featured in an unauthorized parody called "Sad Kermit".
Aaron Lewis of Staind covered the song during his 2007 Have Guitar, Will Travel solo acoustic tour.
Luna Amara
Jeff Martin
Montezuma's Revenge
Placebo, at the House of Blues in California in 2003.
Damien Rice, by inserting lyrics from the song into his live performances.
Underoath played it acoustic live
Sevendust did a cover as a tribute to Johnny Cash.
Howard Stern had his own version for his show, called "Private Hurt". He played the song while mixing in sound clips from his film Private Parts.
Westside Connection sampled the main riff for their song "The Gangsta The Killa and The Dope Dealer".

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

Nice fresh blood. WTG E_Nygma. Gregorian chants all around.

More Gregorian chanting!