The Sparrow: A Novel, Paperback – September 8, 1997
by Mary Doria Russell (Author)

I found this book quite interesting. It definitely has some very dark
passages, as well as some inspirational ones. So probably best to avoid
if one is prone to depression.

The SETI mission definitely receives vocal music from a fairly nearby
planet. While the U.N. is undecided and dithers, the Society of Jesus
(Jesuits) privately send an eight person mission to meet these other
children of God. They find a habitable planet and make contact
with a very peaceful intelligent species and learn the language.
Then they meet the advanced species that made the music.
The dominant species may have radio, but seems otherwise medieval.

"Hard science" is not Mary Doria Russell's forte, but this book is
pretty compatible with known scientific laws.

I bought an extra copy of this book and sent it to a snow-birding
friend. He finished it and has ordered the sequel. But he has
noted some skipping of scientific preparations.

from the Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Sparrow-Novel-Mary-Doria-Russell/dp/0449912558
They rate it as 4.4.

MMM called it 5.0 out of 5 stars, said Excellent novel, not an easy
read, and "The characters jump out at you. They feel complete, their
stories are properly explored and fleshed out. I cared for them, cheered
for them. I miss them. I wanted to stay with them a little longer."
also "This is a memorable book with big questions, lots of great
cultural and linguistic detail and great characters. It's a wise and
shattering read. Not easy but one that provokes thinking --"

John rated it 4.0 out of 5 stars, "A tragic tale full of wonder,
mystery, and the search for meaning.
Father Sandoz is the Job of the future, except he failed his test.
---What had begun as a beautiful leap of faith ended in unimaginable
misery---".

It has a wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sparrow_(novel)
"The Sparrow (1996) is the first novel by author Mary Doria Russell. It
won the Arthur C. Clarke Award, James Tiptree Jr. Award,
Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis and the British Science Fiction Association Award. It
was followed by a sequel, Children of God, in 1998. The title refers to
Gospel of Matthew 10:29–31, which relates that not even a sparrow falls
to the earth without God's knowledge thereof."
And that gives a pretty fair plot summary.

Here is the Goodreads citation,
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/334176.The_Sparrow
They rate it 4.14

Lori says, "it is NOT a yah-yah Christian book at all. I would instead
call it a spiritual book in that the journey involves time old
questions, of faith, of God, of religion, of humanity."

Carol rated it a 5, and wrote, "It was well done, with beautiful prose.
Interesting dual storyline style. I understand other reviewers'
complaints about realism and incompatible biologies, microflora, etc.,
but I think the story is, at heart, a parable."