Easter at Ephesus

Chart-toppers, the BENEDICTINES OF MARY, are back with a new Easter recording . . .

Easter at Ephesus
Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles
De Montfort Music/Decca

How does a young order of contemplative nuns (formed in 1995) who don’t set foot beyond their Midwest rolling farmland became the No. 1-bestselling Billboard Classical Traditional artist for three consecutive years? Answer: By the grace of God.

The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles are perplexing music industry insiders and thrilling the souls of thousands with their angelic recordings. Their latest, Easter at Ephesus, is the order’s fourth major release, following their chart-topping albums Advent at Ephesus, Angels and Saints at Ephesus and Lent at Ephesus, which crowned Billboard’s annual Top Traditional Classical album charts for 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.

The Benedictines join forces once more with 11-time Grammy Award-winning producer Christopher Alder for this release. The 27-track album features an array of glorious chants and exhilarating hymns for Eastertide with the unearthly voices of the nuns who have inspired millions around the world.

Highlights from Easter At Ephesus include well-known hymns with signature new arrangements of “The Clouds of Night,” “Jesus Christ is Ris’n Today,” “This is the Day,” as well as exquisite artistic gems “Alle Psallite Cum Luya” and “Oculus Non Vidit.”

The sisters succeed in drawing hearts deeper into the Easter season as they accompany the listener from Easter through Pentecost with angelic renditions of “Ascendit Deus” with text from Offertory of Ascension Thursday, as well as tracks such as Ravanello’s “Pascha Nostrum” from the Communion Verse for Easter Sunday Mass. Not to be missed are their original compositions like the hauntingly beautiful “Queen of Priests.”

The album features a 12-page booklet with original artwork and lyrics in English (Latin songs are translated as well). The booklet is downloadable for digital music buyers. The Benedictines’ chart (and soul-moving) success is further evidence of their resonance with consumers across the country — and a welcome antidote to today’s gimmick-oriented popular music.

PATRICK NOVECOSKY is Legatus magazine’s editor-in-chief.

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