"Move over, Madonna," read a recent San Francisco Chronicle headline.Already a runaway hit in the UK, Chant - Music for the Soul debuted at #9 on the Billboard Pop Chart in June, alongside the reigning Queen of Pop and above Grammy Best New Artist of the Year Amy Winehouse.
This week, The Monks went Gold in the UK and Germany, Platinum in Belgium and Poland, and Double Platinum in Austria.
The disc remains #1 on the Billboard Classical Chart in the US, and held the #1 spot on iTunes for 11 weeks straight.
How did The Monks of the Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz come to be signed by one of the largest record labels in the world?
Earlier this year, Universal Classics & Jazz placed ads in religious publications throughout the UK encouraging choral groups of all types to submit demos.
Word reached The Monks in Vienna, who applied via a video clip they had posted on YouTube.
Of the signing, Billboard reported, "It's a pretty safe bet that very few of Universal Music's recent signings count Pope Benedict XVI among their fans. But the pontiff is a definite admirer of the latest boys in the hood(s) to sign globally to Universal Classics."
Earlier this year, Universal Classics & Jazz placed ads in religious publications throughout the UK encouraging choral groups of all types to submit demos.
Word reached The Monks in Vienna, who applied via a video clip they had posted on YouTube.
Of the signing, Billboard reported, "It's a pretty safe bet that very few of Universal Music's recent signings count Pope Benedict XVI among their fans. But the pontiff is a definite admirer of the latest boys in the hood(s) to sign globally to Universal Classics."
In addition to the great commercial success, Chant - Music for the Soul has been embraced by the American media. Rave reviews include: "The sound of eternity" (The New York Times), "Impossible to resist" (The Washington Times) and "A little music history" (Newsweek).
Critics around the world have praised both the authenticity and the sheer beauty of the Gregorian chant presented on this not-be-missed recording.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Critics around the world have praised both the authenticity and the sheer beauty of the Gregorian chant presented on this not-be-missed recording.
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(Source: CN)
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