Monday, May 26, 2008

Austrian monks ride high in charts

Sun May 25, 2008 7:01pm BST

LONDON (Reuters) - A group of Austrian monks have entered the British album charts with a recording of Gregorian chants, the Official UK Charts Company said on Sunday.

The Cistercian monks of the Stift Heiligenkreuz monastery are Universal Classics' latest unlikely stars, entering the British album charts at number nine with their debut "Chant -- Music for Paradise".

It also clinched the top spot in the classical chart.

"We're overjoyed, and really did not think that so many people would like the album so much," said the order's Father Karl on Sunday.

"We hope that all who listen to it find calm and strength in those thousand-year-old melodies."

The money made from the album will be used to train priests from Vietnam and other poor countries, he said.

The monks were signed up by Universal -- the same record label as Amy Winehouse and Eminem -- after beating more than 200 entries from around the world with their YouTube video submitted in response to the label's advertisement for a choir.

The brothers' chants -- the oldest written form of music in the world -- are already believed to be a favourite of Pope Benedict...

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Hat tip to the NLM.

1 comment:

  1. Gregorian chant--on memorial day, I painted my bedroom--on the CD player was Gregorian chant--keeps me peaceful, calm, and the room looks great!

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