Heartfelt and soothing music from The Priests

The breakthrough for religious music into the mainstream happened when the monks of the Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos in Spain released an album of Gregorian Chant. Since then it has become commonplace to find priests of monks recording religious songs and selling quite well. However, The Priests, the latest addition to the ranks with its self-titled album, has turned out to be different from the rest.

For one, the lyrical trio composed of Fathers Eugene O Hagan, his brother Martin and David Delargy, came at a very good time. While it is no longer a novelty to find recording artists/priests, it is also a fact that blended lyrical voices like the three tenors of Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti or Il Divo now have a definite market. For another, because of the popularity of religious music from the Catholic liturgy, like Ave Maria, Pie Jesu or Panis Angelicus, the songs have become as familiar as standard favorites. With this being the case, The Priests is therefore no longer classified in a separate esoteric category. The three priests are pop artists competing on the same arena as similar acts.

Their performance in the race is outstanding. The Priests from the sleepy parish of Ballyclare and Ballygowan have a big hit in their hands with its CD debut. Without promo tours or appearances in Oprah and Letterman, The Priests is now listed in the Top 200 Albums list of Billboard Magazine. It is No. 12 among the Christmas CDs and best of all it is the number one selling classical CD in the US. And to think that all these priests ever wanted to do was sing.

It is easy to see why. While other recordings by lyrical voices tend to go for the dazzle and stay on that level throughout the album, The Priests stays laidback as though in quiet prayer. The intensity or maybe even the fireworks emanate from the listener who cannot help but get swept up in the love that permeates every song. It actually feels like being enveloped in a mantle of peace. How apt that the album although it has only one carol, O Holy Night, came out in Christmastime. How wonderful indeed that The Priests decided to allow us to hear its songs.

Top classical CDs

The top classical CDs are The Priests by The Priests; The Duets by Luciano Pavarotti and other artists; Vivaldi: The Four Seasons by Joshua Bell and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields; A Christmas Festival by John Rutter/The Cambridge Singers/ Farnham Youth Choir and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Chant: Music for the Soul by the Cistercian Monks of Stift Hellingenkreuz; Piano Music for Christmas by The Christmas Piano; Chopin: The Piano Concerto by Lang Lang and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Zubin Metha; Live in Vienna by Andre Rieu; The Three Tenors at Christmas by Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti; and Souvenirs by Anna Netrebko.

As for the Christmas albums, topping the list is And Winter Came, the new and truly beautiful release from Enya. The rest in the Top 20 are: Joy to the World by Faith Hill; Christmas Duets by Elvis Presley and other artists; The Essential Now That’s What I Call Christmas by Various Artists; Songs of Joy and Peace by Yo-Yo Ma and Friends; What a Night: A Christmas Album by Harry Connick Jr.; Peace on Earth by Casting Crowns; A Swinging Christmas by Tony Bennett featuring the Count Basie Big Band; Christmasville by Mannheim Steamroller; The Christmas Collection by Amy Grant.

A Winter Symphony by Sarah Brightman; The Priests by The Priests; Holiday Spirits by Straight No Chaser; All Wrapped Up by Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Aly & Aj and other Disney artists; and A Candlelight Christmas by Mannheim Steamroller.

As the countdown to the Christmas hour reaches its end, please allow me to send all our readers the sentiments expressed in this Old Irish Blessing that inspired the song of the same title in The Priests.

May the road rise up to meet you/ May the wind ever be at your back/ May the sun shine warm upon your face/ and the rains fall soft upon your fields/ And until we meet again/ May God hold you in the palm of His Hand.

Merry Christmas.