Harmony

The Priests (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 23, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rca
• ASIN: B002PGO8GY
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #77 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #6 in	Music > Opera & Vocal
  #7 in	Music > Classical
  #76 in	Music > Pop

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

2009 sophomore albu from the singing global superstars who broke the Guinness world record for the fastest selling classical debut album of all time. The Priests, brothers Fathers Martin and Eugene O'Hagan and Father David Delargy, were young school friends when they first sang together at the age of 12 (Martin and David) and 15 (Eugene). Their love of singing continued whilst studying for the priesthood in Rome. Once ordained, all three took up parish commitments. Singing was both part of prayer plus, in their spare time, they performed in local operas, musicals and choirs. In February 2008, a record company scout knocked on their door and asked them to make a demo. The rest, as they say is history. The Priests never allow their music commitments to stand in the way of their day jobs and parish obligations.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A strongly classical repertoire delights on "Harmony", November 24, 2009

By	Veggiechiliqueen - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

On The Priests' sophomore CD, Fathers Martin and Eugene O'Hagan and Father David Delargy tackle another round of soul-stirring hymns and religious music, including How Great Thou Art, Amazing Grace, the Lord's Prayer and Silent Night. The Lord's Prayer deserves special mention for the powerful a capella rendition; it's the only track not backed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, thereby evoking the power and grace of early plainchant. The English-language version of Silent Night opens and closes with a tin whistle and is more traditionally paced than the uptempo version of "O Holy Night" from their debut. The fathers composed the music for "King of Kings" themselves. Nods to their Irish Catholic heritage come in the form of Gaelic Blessing by John Rutter and the lovely Irish Gaelic hymn Bi Iosa Im Chroise (Christ Be In My Heart).

The strongest tracks are those from the Baroque / Classical / Romantic repertoire, including Stozel (Bist du Bei Mir, frequently misattributed to Bach), Pergolesi (Stabat Mater), Vivaldi (Laudamus Te), Mozart (Ave Verum Corpus), Haydn's Te Deum and Mendelssohn (Lift Thine Eyes). This version of Pergolesi's divine Stabat Mater is a bit more uptempo than some of the other versions I own by Andreas Scholl, Cecilia Bartoli and Sara Mingardo, but no less haunting. Much as on their debut, the orchestral backing complements the priests' rich voices without overwhelming, allowing the vocals to shine.

Overall, "Harmony" has much more of a uniform feel than their debut; most noticeably, there are fewer foreign-language songs ("Priests" had two Spanish songs in addition to Latin and Irish Gaelic tracks) and only one Christmas song. The fifteen tracks really shine in the hands of producer Mike Hedges, Fathers Martin and Eugene O'Hagan and Father David Delargy, the Royal Philharmonic, the Brompton Oratory School and Coro. In Father Eugene's words, `I think, because over the last year we have been singing together so much, our voices blend better and our sound has matured. There's an even greater sense of synergy with the voices, and we're more confident too. Even as a professional singer, you never stop fine-tuning the instrument.' "Harmony" is a pure delight and a wonderful gift for those seeking a moment of peace and contemplation in their hectic lives.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars could not have been better - intend to buy more, December 15, 2009

By	Cami Huk - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Having bought their first CD, I was eager to hear this one. The selections were well thought out -- and the voices are as strong as they were on the first CD. I shared two with friends as gifts, and am eager to buy more to share with others.

BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Inspiring Music from The Priests, December 8, 2009

By	L. Z. Bodak-gyovai "DocnDoc" (Glen Mills PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Lovely harmonies, restrained strong musicality. I think they do best when they stay with their traditional sacred or Irish music selections such as The Lord's Prayer or Stabat Mater. Other selections, such as Amazing Grace which you often hear in a rhythm & blues style, do not work as well. Overall, a lovely CD for medication or for the holidays.