Press Releases
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Press Releases
The Monks of Norcia’s BENEDICTA: Marian Chant from Norcia #1 on Billboard’s Classical Traditional Chart for Two Weeks Straight
June 18, 2015 | By Liza Prijatel Thors
June 18, 2015 (New York, NY) – BENEDICTA: Marian Chant from Norcia is Billboard’s #1 Classical Traditional Album for the second week in a row. The Monks success continues following their #1 debut week, where they also bested superstar recording artists such as Taylor Swift and Willie Nelson as the #1 Best-seller at Barnes & Noble.com, #2 Best-seller at Amazon.com and Top 40 on iTunes’ overall chart respectively. Competing with pop, rap and country superstars, The Monks’ transformative, ethereal music and fascinating human-interest story has struck a chord with consumers and media alike, with recent features on NPR and CBS News.
The Washington Post just reported on The Monks appeal, stating “churches may be in decline, but Gregorian chant beats secular competition.”
The moving music of BENEDICTA was recorded by a group of 18 men; half American citizens and half representing a variety of cultural backgrounds who collectively are heralded as one of the most authentic active singing communities of Gregorian chant today. They are led by Fr. Cassian Folsom, Prior - an American who studied voice at the venerable Indiana University before joining the monastery. Fr. Cassian just completed a rare trip to New York City, where he visited SiriusXM’s Symphony Hall Channel, which will feature a special interview (in August) that will also be syndicated on the national radio program, “Millennium of Music.”
Chicago’s premiere classical radio station WFMT also just aired an insightful interview with Fr. Cassian.
In addition to the monks daily monastic life devoted to prayer and music, they also strive to communicate their vision of life by way of “earthly experiences.” To that end, The Monks of Norcia operate a craft brewery at the monastery, Birra Nursia, where they produce brews that have gained devotees from distant countries, bringing new visitors to Norcia, adding to their compelling backstory in an unexpected way.
BENEDICTA is available now on De Montfort Music & Decca Records/Universal Music Classics.
www.osbnorcia.org www.DeMontfortMusic.com www.DeccaClassics.com www.UniversalMusicClassics.com ### For More Information Contact:
Olga Makrias – Universal Music Classics Olga.makrias@umusic.com / 212.333.1485
Liza Prijatel Thors | Rebecca Davis Public Relations Liza@rebeccadavispr.com | 917.673.2048
Monica Fitzgibbons – De Montfort Music monica@demontfortmusic.com / 602.999.2697
