Excerpt from Angelus: The Tidings Online
April 30, 2014 – Brenda Rees
Gorgeous harmonies, reflective chants, praise music and spiritual connection — the CD “Lean into the Wind” from the Carmelite Sisters of the San Gabriel Valley is the latest venture from the religious community perhaps better known for their teaching, nurturing and nursing.
The sisters recorded their first musical offerings 17 years ago, accompanying themselves on instruments. This year, assisted by Tom Weir of Studio City Sound, they teamed with professional musicians for a very polished sound in this, their seventh release, spearheaded by Carmelite Sister Mary Scholastica. The sisters wrote 12 of the 14 selections.
For the first time, the sisters’ CD will be available on Amazon and iTunes. “We have heard from people who have downloaded it and they tell us how much they enjoy it,” says Carmelite Sister Timothy Marie, community spokesperson. “We see the music as a gift to the world.”
Indeed, the songs come from the sisters’ deep souls; many composed melodies and lyrics during or after a silent prayer retreat. That reflective time, says Sister Timothy Marie, can unlock creativity, vision and music…
