The Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz

Based at the Abbey of Stift Heiligenkreuz in the Vienna Woods area of Austria, the Cistercian Monks came to the attention of the pop music and classical crossover-buying audience with the release of the album Chant: Music for the Soul in 2008. The album, a collection of the monks participating in the "sung prayer" that is Gregorian chant, was a hit the world over, bringing a fair amount of attention -- not to mention financial windfall -- to the centuries-old order. The recordings featured 17 of the monks, who recorded the work in their church, according to the traditions that have been around since pre-Christian times. ~ Chris True