A group of Austrian monks have secured a record deal after posting their chanting on YouTube.The melodious monks, from the Cistercian monastery in the Vienna woods, beat hundreds of other artists when they sent their home-made music video to Universal Music after the record company advertised for 'monks, men of the cloth and sacred singers' to record a Gregorian chant album.
Universal executive Tom Lewis was very impressed when he first heard the monks.
He said, " It was beautiful, beautiful music and they're using the very latest in terms of communication devices available to get there music heard.
"They feel its an opportunity for this music, that’s obviously so special to them, to be heard."
The monks rise to fame started when they performed for the Pope on his visit to Austria last year.
After then posting a home-made clip on YouTube a friend in London told them about the Universal advert.
Although now on the same label as controversial US rapper Eminem and party animal Amy Winehouse, the monks have vowed that they will continue to lead their usual monastic lifestyle.
According to one monk, called Father Karl, the group will firmly keep their feet on the ground because, unlike other forms of music, "The Gregorian chant is part of our spirituality and our life."
An album will be recorded next month, with all profits to be used to fund the training of future monks.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce