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 The PriestsSales Rank:8List Price: $18.98 Lowest New Price: $10.45 Lowest Used Price: $9.99 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 Total Reviews: 28 Customer Reviews:Rating: 5 Grreat !! I BOUGHT 10 OF THESE CD'S FOR GIFTS AS I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE MUSIC. IT IS JUST BEAUTIFUL!! Rating: 5 The Priests I had already seen the cd advertised and I got to hear some of it on Amazon.com before I made the purchase. I bought 4, one for myself & three for gifts. Everyone liked them, and it only took a few days for them to arrive. Rating: 5 The Priests are winners! This cd is absolutely fabulous! Their harmonies are outstanding and the musical choices are exceptional! I would highly recommend this cd to anyone! Rating: 5 THE PRIESTS THE MUSIC THAT WAS SELECTED FOR THIS DVD WAS OUTSTANDING......MANY CHESTNUTS OF CHOICES THAT SATISFIED MY EARS COMPLETELY. THE ABILITIES OF THESE THREE PRIESTS WAS AMAZING. THEY HARMONIZED BEAUTIFULLY AND THEY DID NOT TRY TO BE ANYTHING BUT PRAYERFUL IN THEIR PRESENTATION. IT HAS BEEN QUITE REFRESHING TO LISTEN TO THEM! I BOUGHT BOTH THE DVD AND THE CD SO I CAN LISTEN TO THEM IN MY CAR AS WELL. Rating: 5 Songs to lift the spirit I first heard about the Priests last summer; CNN dubbed them "New Clergymen on the Block." Father Eugene O'Hagan, Father Martin O'Hagan (the two are brothers) and their childhood friend Father David Delargy are priests in the parishes of Ballyclare and Ballygowan, Cushendun, and Hannahstown in Northern Ireland. All three studied at the Irish College in Rome, and sang for Pope John Paul II as they studied for the priesthood. They were recently signed by SonyBMG in a much-publicized deal valued at one million pounds; their contract also has unique stipulations such that their respective parish duties take precedence over promotional events, or that they may opt out of any performance or commercial activity which conflicts with their religious beliefs. Despite the proliferation of classical crossover groups and soloists, the Priests are unique. "Their brand isn't something that's been invented; it's been around for 2,000 years," says Samantha Wright, the group's manager. A portion of the proceeds go to charity. Both the concept, talented singers who also happen to be ordained priests, and the fact that the proceeds go to charity, is a refreshing change in this age of contrived commercially-oriented classical crossover acts such as Il Divo and Amici Forever. The fourteen songs include sacred Latin hymns such as Ave Maria, Panis Angelicus, Ecce Sacerdos Magnus, and Domine Fili Unigente (from Vivaldi's Gloria) and Haydn's Mit Würd und Hoheit Angetan, in addition to more modern tracks such as Andrew Lloyd Webber's haunting Pie Jesu (originally sung by Sarah Brightman) and Benedictus. There are two Spanish tracks and several Irish compositions, including Ag Criost An Siol and a musical setting of the familiar Irish Blessing ("May the road rise to meet you..."). Although the album is not Christmas-themed, there is a beautiful, uptempo version of "O Holy Night" in which the harmony of the three priests is woven together most magically over the shimmer of horns. The production values are simple and understated, allowing the beauty of the songs (and of the priests' divinely gifted voices) to shine through. The beauty of the singing has nothing to do with studio wizardry or posturing; there are no glaring synthesizers or technical sleight of hand as is omnipresent in classical crossover albums these days. The music is simply a vehicle for prayer, backed sublimely by the Choir of Philharmonic Academy of Rome and recorded in St. Peter's Basilica. The Priests themselves said it best: "When we sing, we don't simply sing. We pray." The Priests is a work that can be appreciated on many levels whether you choose to enjoy it simply as soothing background music or as a deeper tool to aid in reflection and prayer, and its various elements come together flawlessly, from the three mesmerizing voices of Fathers Eugene, Martin, and David, to the timeless hymns and songs selected, to the traditional philharmonic arrangements and backing choir. This is a gift that will certainly be cherished by those who love sacred music (Catholics will feel right at home with several of the more traditional hymns like Ave Maria and Panis Angelicus), Irish music (there are hints of tin whistle and a touch of Irish Gaelic on Ag Criost An Siol and Irish Blessing) and by anyone who appreciates musical beauty. |