Music With a Message is Album's Theme
CUDAHY Reminder Enterprise
By Steve Staedler
They're soothing classics that have withstood the test of time.
Latin songs originally composed as early as the 13th century such as "Ave Maria," "Dona Nobis Pacem" and "Tantum Ergo," have recently been given a new voice, compliments of Eileen Carr.
"Its contemporary renditions of old Catholic Hymns," Carr said of the 11 songs on her album. "Pax", which debuted about a year ago. "(Pax)" means peace in Latin and that is what I was trying to convey - the spirit. It's music from the heart."
A singer all her life, Carr initially had the idea to record an album several years ago after talking about life goals with friend and record producer Terry Sweet. For Carr, it was recording these Latin songs that have forever remained with her from when she sang on the church choir as a young girl.
"These songs that I remember were the beloved songs which transcended time," she said, adding that her plans were to take these melodies and add a contemporary feel to them.
But the cost to produce a recording proved too much of a hurdle, and Carr's dream would have to wait, until her father rekindled the idea at a family gathering. With his financial backing and interest in the project, "Pax" was born.
"I always recognized these particular songs, she said of the album's selections. "The ones that I chose were people's favorites. They got to their souls. They went past their head and right into their spirit, and I knew that - what songs connected and what songs didn't.
It's this ability of the album to connect with people and conjure up emotions that has become the true meaning behind "Pax."
"It turned out brilliant," she said of "Pax" which also includes the vocals of her daughter, Emily Shebesta, her son, Christian Shebesta and her sister-in-law Barbara Carr. "People who hear it are moved to tears pretty often.
"It's special. I've worked with music my whole life and some things have magic and some things don't. This has magic."
As for the future, Carr sang on a selection that will be included in an album titled "Catholic Artists for the Millennium," which will debut next year and be distributed to all Catholic outlets around the world.