Austrian Monks Nab Record Deal

Austrian monks to record Gregorian chant album
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 23, 2008 2:16 PM CDT
Austrian Monks Nab Record Deal
Pope Benedict XVI prays during a liturgical celebration at the church of Heiligenkreuz Abbey south of Vienna, Austria, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007.    (Associated Press)

Amy Winehouse and Cistercian monks wouldn't seem to have much in common, but now they've got the same record label, the BBC reports. Universal Music's search for "sacred singers" to record a Gregorian chant album turned up an Austrian monastery dating back to 1133. "It was beautiful, beautiful music," said a Universal exec.

"Gregorian chant is part of spirituality and our life," said one father at the Heiligenkreuz monastery, which he said submitted a clip of ancient medieval songs "for fun" via YouTube when a friend told them about the competition. Profits from the album, set for global release later this year, will go toward training other monks. (More Catholic Church stories.)

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