Singing sister act sought for Pope's tour

An album of plainsong and chant is wanted for the Pope's upcoming visit to Britain. Photo / AP

"Attention nuns and religious orders" runs the headline of a new advert out over the weekend, as Decca Records launches an international search for nuns with good singing voices to take part in what it describes as a "unique new recording project".

Universal Music, which is already home to such international stars as Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse and is the label behind a surprise chart hit for the monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz, near Vienna, is now turning to nunneries and convents to find its next singing sensation.

The advertisement, accompanied by a television campaign, aims to attract the right talent for an album of plainsong and chant in time for the Pope's visit to Britain in September.

Asking, "Does your order regularly practise worship through singing?", Decca, the classical music arm of Universal, points out to nuns that it was St Augustine who first said: "When we sing, we pray twice."

It then urges suitable nuns to apply to Tom Lewis, the company's A&R (artists and repertoire) expert.

Lewis claims he had the idea for the new CD when Decca moved offices recently and he had to sort through his old vinyl records. He found an album featuring a group of nuns singing together: "When you hear the sound of nuns chanting, it's like an immediate escape from the challenges, stresses, pace and noise of modern living.

"You're given a glimpse of another world ... This is a sound of something ancient, unchanging and timeless."

LEADING THE WAY

Fisherman's friends: A contract was awarded last week to the Cornish fishermen of Port Isaac, who have been singing traditional sea shanties together for 15 years. The deal, said to be worth £1 million ($2.12 million), has also earned the 10-strong group, calling themselves the Fisherman's Friends, a date at the Glastonbury festival.

Musical monks: In 2008 the Cistercian monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz produced a platinum-selling CD of Gregorian chant called Chant: Music of the Soul. The monks have used the money made from their unexpected success to fund charitable works.

- OBSERVER