PORTLAND, OR. (Top40 Charts/ OCP) - A few years ago, Eleazar Cortes recognized the need for wedding music in Spanish, so he created El Amor Nunca Pasara. Now he turns his focus toward repertoire for funeral liturgies. His latest collection, En el Pais de la Vida (In the Land of the Living), gives Hispanic parishes 14 richly crafted new songs for use in Christian funerals. The titles include psalms, Communion songs, entrance hymns, songs of farewell, music for final commendation, and a Gospel acclamation. Featuring a variety of traditional and Latin American styles, the songs are accessible to the resources of the average parish. The poetic song texts are based on the ritual texts for funerals (paraphrased). While the music is designed for use in the liturgy, the CD is so colorfully recorded that it makes great listening outside the liturgy. Produced by Pedro Rubalcava, director of Hispanic ministries for OCP, the collection features Latin American instruments and rhythms and great performances by talented professional musicians. "Eleazar's gift is to create beautiful, meaningful texts and allow them to speak to us of God's love and mercy through his rich melodies," says Rubalcava. "He's done it again with these songs of comfort and consolation." En el Pais de la Vida is another triumph for this accomplished composer and servant of the people of God. The funeral liturgy in Spanish never sounded so beautiful. For more information on Eleazar Cortes, En el Pais de la Vida and other products from OCP, call 1-800-548-8749 or visit ocp.org.
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