14 DAY TRIAL // Come November this year, music lovers worldwide have one of the biggest surprises ever coming their way, as Pope Benedict XVI will be coming out with his own music album on the label that was once home to rebellious groups such as Nirvana and Guns N’Roses. Bosses from Geffen UK, the label that will handle the release of the material, have already met with the pontiff and they vouch audiences will be “shocked” by his impressive voice once they hear the material, BBC News informs.
Understandably, this will not be just a regular music album, as the label stresses. “Alma Mater” will include Lauretan litanies and prayers, and will feature only one song that the pontiff actually sings to. The rest of the eight pieces that will be on the material will actually be the Pope reciting passages and prayers to music accompaniment. Still, they are bound to leave audiences breathless, especially since the pontiff can be heard speaking in five different languages and in a most beautiful voice.
“We travelled to Rome, heard some of the music and realized it was a beautiful piece of music and something that actually could be an incredible record for us to work on. It’s very much about delivering a really brilliant piece of music and making sure we treat it with the respect it deserves.” Colin Barlow, president of Geffen UK, tells BBC about the work currently in production. As of now, the Pope is said to be extremely pleased with how the album is coming along. “We’ve had a letter from the Vatican saying that he’s heard the music so far and he’s very happy with what he’s heard.” Barlow adds.
Making this album happen will also be an entirely different experience than with regular artists, BBC further says. For one, the Pope did not step into a recording studio to work on the vocals, as the Vatican supplied the label with samples recorded during official services and as he was traveling abroad addressing the masses. On the other hand, the choir recorded at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, while the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra laid down the actual track at London’s Abbey Road Studios.
Founded in 1980, Geffen Records handled artists like John Lennon, Nirvana, Guns N’ Roses and, more recently, Dame Shirley Bassey. “Alma Mater” will be released on November 30, the aforementioned media outlet says.