The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, a monastic order based in Gower, Missouri, have achieved international success with their thematic albums of the devotional music they sing for five hours a day at the monastery. The scope of their success has exceeded even that of popular monastic singers in the past, and it's worth asking how they do it. This release of music devoted to the adoration of Jesus offers good examples of what makes these sisters appealing. First is simply the fact that they are women; their ...
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The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, a monastic order based in Gower, Missouri, have achieved international success with their thematic albums of the devotional music they sing for five hours a day at the monastery. The scope of their success has exceeded even that of popular monastic singers in the past, and it's worth asking how they do it. This release of music devoted to the adoration of Jesus offers good examples of what makes these sisters appealing. First is simply the fact that they are women; their competition is exclusively male. Second is the considerable care taken in honing the vocal sound, which often makes it hard to tell how many singers are on a part; the number actually varies from piece to piece here, but you'd hardly know it. Third is the personalized nature of the mostly anonymous repertory: the sisters sing in Latin and English, and they mix plainchant with simple polyphony, including music they have arranged themselves. Sample a piece like Soul of My Savior. This variety has in the past included original music, but this time does not. Fourth is the variety thus created within a context of simplicity and consistency of sound; the Benedictines of Mary are often described as singing chant, but more often they offer simple polyphonic hymns. Finally, the engineering does an impressive job in giving a feel for what these nuns sound like as they go about their daily sung devotions. This recording is not everyone's cup of tea, but for those wanting to be imbued with a devotional spirit its appeal is undeniable. ~ James Manheim, Rovi
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