Thaindian News

London, Sept 30 (ANI): An agnostic and a Muslim are among the three composers chosen to write music for the Pope as he visits the UK next year.

Simon Boswell is a British agnostic; Nour Eddine is Muslim from Morocco; and the third composer is an Italian Catholic named Stefano Mainetti.

They have been selected to pen eight new songs for the Alma Mater - Music From The Vatican, an album featuring Pope Benedict XVI reciting and singing texts and prayers to tunes of traditional church music.

Sky News quoted the record’s producer Vincent Messina as saying: “These three composers are world class and my first choices for the album.

“A happy coincidence is that Stefano is Catholic, Simon is ‘undeclared’ and Nour is Muslim, perfectly representing our aim to produce an album that has universal appeal to all of those who love beautiful music.

“We have all been very moved at how successfully these modern scores blend with the choir, the orchestra and the Pope’s voice.”

While Mainetti and Boswell are both professional composers, Eddine was pleasantly surprised when he was roped in for the Pope’s album, because he has always been writing for traditional Arabic music.

He said: “It was a magical moment for me when the tradition of the Gregorian and my Arabic melody came together so harmoniously.”

The Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will play for the album.

The record is slated for a November 29 release.

The Pope’s UK visit in 2010 will be the first papal visit to the country in 27 years. (ANI)