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London: A group of Gregorian chanting monks are on the cusp of international fame, after being signed by one of the world's biggest music labels.
The Abbey of the Holy Cross monks, whose heavenly notes are enjoyed by Pope Benedict, have signed with London-based Universal Records.
The record giant, home to artists like Amy Winehouse, Bryan Adams and Eminem, will produce the Austrian-based choir's album, which is due for distribution later this year.
The company discovered the choir, from the world's second oldest Cistercian monastery 15 kilometres west of Vienna, after they responded via YouTube to advertisements calling for medieval chanters.
They beat more than 100 other entries which had flooded in from all over the world from countries such as the US, France, Italy, Ireland and Canada.
According to the monks' Web site, Pope Benedict made a rare visit last year to the Austrian monastery which was founded in 1133.
Because of the Pontiff's visit they were forced to postpone releasing their own album, Universal said.
Just for fun
The monks' spokesman, Father Karl Wallner, said they had initially responded to the advertisement "for fun".
"But now it has become a very serious and positive thing for us because Gregorian Chant is the expression of our spirituality, it's how we pray," he said.
"We're not Robbie Williams or Michael Jackson, we're just a group of monks who sing every day because it's our prayer and it's our life."
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