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AVIGNON, France: The reclusive nuns of the Abbaye de Notre-Dame de l'Annonciation in France recently became Lady Gaga's latest label mates when they inked a record deal with Decca Records, a part of music label Universal Music.
The sisters were discovered when Decca Records went on a scouting trip to search out the best female singers of Gregorian Chant.
"We never sought this, it came looking for us," said the Reverend Mother Abbess in a statement.
"At first we were worried it would affect our cloistered life, so we asked St Joseph in prayer. Our prayers were answered, and we thought that this album would be a good thing if it touches people's lives and helps them find peace."
If your idea of singing nuns comes from the Hollywood film "Sister Act", you will be in for quite a shock.
These Benedictine nuns are the real deal – members of their ancient closed order have been leading traditional lives, away from secular civilisation in their abbey near Avignon, France since the 6th century.
They are self-sufficient, with plumbers, engineers, electricians and even a dental assistant among them.
As part of a closed order of nuns, the sisters are not allowed to leave the abbey and must live there till death. No visitors are allowed onto the abbey premises.
Decca Records' managing director Dickon Stainer was no exception.
In order to sign them, he was forced to pass the contract to the nuns through a grille, their only point of contact with the outside world.
"I passed the contract through the grille, they signed it and they passed it back," said Stainer in a press statement. "Although the nuns do not leave the convent, the whole world will now hear the true beauty of their singing."
To preserve their way of life, the nuns will shoot their own album cover and television commercial.
Their album, titled "Voices–Chant from Avignon", will feature an ancient form of Gregorian Chant, reportedly the first form of music ever to be written down, and is scheduled for a worldwide release in November.
As the nuns have taken a Vow of Poverty, all proceeds of from the deal will go towards the running of their abbey.
- CNA
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