Voices-Chant From Avignon : Benedictine Nuns of Notre-Dame de l'Annonciation

Voices - Chant From Avignon
The Benedictine Nuns Of Notre-Dame De l'Annonciation, Le Barroux

01. Overture: Invitatory Surrexit Dominus, Ps. 94
02. Sadness In Life: Introit Exsurge
03. Sadness In Life: Lamentation Oratio Jeremiae
04. Annunciation Bells
05. Sadness In Life: Sequence Dies irae
06. Sadness In Life: Tract Commovisti
07. Sadness In Life: Offertory Recordare
08. Sadness In Life: Alleluia Oportebat pati Christum
09. Stay With Us: Alleluia Cognoverunt
10. Stay With Us: Communion Panis
11. Stay With Us: Hymn Adoro te
12. Stay With Us: Introit Esto mihi
13. Stay With Us: Offertory In te speravi
14. Stay With Us: Sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus
15. Stay With Us: Antiphon Ubi caritas
16. Burning Hearts: Antiphon Nonne cor nostrum, Magnificat
17. Burning Hearts: Response Regnum mundi
18. Burning Hearts: Gradual Christus
19. Burning Hearts: Offertory Dextera Domini
20. Burning Hearts: Antiphon Alleluia, Ps. 116
21. Burning Hearts: Hymn Benedictus es
22. Annunciation Peal Of Bells

The Nuns of the Abbaye de Notre-Dame de l'Annonciation, from a remote region of France near Avignon, won a worldwide search to find the world's finest female singers of Gregorian Chant. The search took in over 70 convents, including communities as far afield as North America and Africa. The Nuns' new label-mates include Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Amy Winehouse, U2 and convent-educated Lady GaGa herself.

The Nuns are part of an ancient order which dates back to the 6th Century. They continue the tradition of leading a hidden life, literally behind closed doors. To remain 'secluded' to the outside world, any visitors, even family, must communicate with the sisters through a grill. Once vows have been taken to live in the Convent, the sisters remain there until their death.

"We never sought this, it came looking for us" said Reverend Mother Abbess."At first we were worried it would affect our cloistered life, so we asked St. Joseph in prayer. Our prayers were answered, and we thought that this album would be a good thing if it touches people's lives and helps them find peace".

To avoid intrusion into their daily lives, the Nuns will film their own TV commercial and photograph their own album cover. The self-sufficient Nuns, who count amongst them a plumber, an engineer, an electrician, a silk-weaver and a dental assistant, have already forbidden record company bosses from entering their cloister.

Dickon Stainer, Managing Director of Decca Records, said, "I passed the contract through the grill, they signed it and passed it back. Although the nuns do not leave the Convent, the whole world will now hear the true beauty of their singing".

The Nuns' album will feature the most ancient form of Gregorian Chant, which the sisters sing eight times a day, and was the first music ever to be written down. Tom Lewis, Head of A&R at Decca Records, says, "When you hear the sound of nuns chanting, it's like an immediate escape from the challenges, stresses, noise and pace of modern living. You're given a glimpse of a secret world of peace and calm". ( DECCA )