Arrivederci Carlo

I haven't had much time to blog recently, hence the silence. Since last logging on I see one of my musical heroes has passed away - the Italian tenor, Carlo Bergonzi.  He died on the 25th July last at the age of 90. 

Bergonzi was perhaps one of the best tenors in the last hundred years, and in my opinion, a greater singer than Pavarotti or Carreras. He trained in the bel canto tradition and had a most magnificent voice, one which was so satisfying to listen to, technically brilliant and pure, and also full of passion and life.  He could hit the high notes with ease, his technique so subtle he just seem to flow into the music (I know that just probably sounds strange but it makes sense to me).  He was a fine interpreter of Verdi, reviving some of that composer's lesser works, but also a great interpreter of  verismo. His Puccini recordings are excellent, and for me he will always be Cavaradossi and Rodolfo, no one has yet surpassed his interpretation of those roles. Now Bergonzi was never a great actor, some said he couldn't act to save his life, but he could sing! He brought the role to life through his voice.

Bergonzi, like many singers had an interesting life, he was not from a privileged background. He saw his first opera when he was six and he was transfixed. He left school at eleven to take up work to support his family, working in a cheese factory. He had started singing in the Church choir, and he continued to do so. When he was 16 he got the opportunity to begin vocal studies, and he began, interestingly, as a baritone. In 1948 he made his professional debut singing Figaro in The Barber of Seville, a baritone role, and more work followed. However he soon discovered that tenor roles were more suited to his voice and so he made the transition (not always an easy, nor advisable one). He made his debut as a tenor singing in the role of Andrea Chenier in the opera of the same name in 1951, and he never looked back.

Bergonzi was singing up to the year 2000, and thereafter took masterclasses. He outlasted his rivals, though his last performance was a bit of a disaster, and this made him realise the end had come: however he was 75 and signing the title role in a concert performance of Otello. Despite a busy career, he married in 1950 and remained married until his death: he and his wife Adele had two sons.

May the Lord have mercy on him and grant him eternal life. I cannot say whether his vocal ability will outshine that of the angels, but his voice will be a most welcome addition to the heavenly choirs.

And to remember him, his version of Puccini's E Lucevan le stelle from Tosca.

And of course, we have to have something from his beloved Verdi. We'll go for Aida, and let's be obvious - None Shall Sleep Tonight! Nessun Dorma.



And to end, something from verismo, the wonderful Pagliacci, Canio's famous aria, Vesti la giubba.

La Beata!

 

Ah, Blessed Cecilia!  I love this feast day.  My mind and heart go to the Church in Trastevere, just south of the Vatican, where the sacred remains of the Virgin Martyr lie in peace beneath Moderno's magnificent statue.  There her sarcophagus lies with that of her husband and his brother, all witnesses to Christ through the shedding of their blood.

 

In the Fraternity of St Genesius, St Cecilia is invoked as one of the Holy Intercessors - Saints and Blesseds who are patrons of the various arts. Cecilia is patron of music, not because she was musician but because of a line in the story of her life and martyrdom that during her marriage ceremony she sang a song of love to God.  An interesting way of becoming patron, but one which reminds us that artistic activity is, and should be, ultimately, an act of praising God.  Cecilia will certainly assist us in that regard.

 

But Cecilia is also one of the great women of the early Church who preferred to die rather than renounce her faith in Christ.  As a strong woman of faith who embraced a life of virginity and consecration even though she was forced into marriage.  Instead of abandoning that promise to Christ she won her new husband over to her way of thinking and then over to her faith.  She remained a virgin even though married: in this she is certainly a challenging figure for us in a time which cannot understand chastity, much less perpetual virginity.

 

So today we might say a prayer to St Cecilia for all our musicians, but perhaps more for those struggling with chastity: in this present age they need strong examples to encourage them.

 

The tomb of St Cecilia: in the Basilica, the famous statue by Moderno lies over it.  Below, in the crypt, her sarcophagus is to be seen just above the altar, behind the grille:

 

 

To All Musicians: Happy Feast Day

It's that time of year again.  Advent is upon us, Christmas is looming, and today is the feast of St Cecilia, the patron of music and musicians.  So there is no better excuse to devote today's post to a little bit of music in honour of the Virgin Martyr.  And while you listen to it, say a prayer for all involved in the music industry.

First, the mandatory homage to the lady of the day:

And a piece from James MacMillan (can't forget him today, with the day that's in it!):



And if you have time, sit back and enjoy: one of my favourite pieces of music, Arvo Part's Beatitudes:



The Tomb of St Cecila in Rome:

To Sing, Or Not To Sing?

One of the big issues which has dominated liturgy in the last forty years has been that of "active participation" on the part of the laity.  In its name we have seen all sorts of shenanigans and the emergence of various abuses.   We have seen laity invade the sanctuary, take over what the priest should be doing often with the priest's consent and introduce all sorts of gimmicks into the Holy Mass.  Thankfully these things may be on their way out as one generation of priest pass away and another, younger generation are ordained and are ready to nip the bud and restore decorum to the sacred liturgy - the new translation of the Mass will help that.

I was reading a very interesting post on Fr Longenecker's blog about this thing of "active participation", and it is well worth a read.  Here is a question which it might well be heresy to ask these days: do we really have to get the congregation singing?  Yes, it is wonderful when they do, but does it upset some great eternal plan, as Tevye would say, if they don't - can we not just have a good choir who ornaments the liturgy with good, orthodox, sacred music?  Is it not better than our people are praying and entering into the mystery of the Holy Sacrifice and not lament about their refusing to get up on the seats, clap their hands and praise Jesus for coming down the mountain?  After all, the Church survived for 1,960 years or so without congregational singing being imposed and it still produced saints and holy people who loved the Mass.

Perhaps, without getting into panic and running around the church before Mass and getting people up to the ambo to wave their hands around like the tote, we might just look to enhance our choirs and concentrate on a renewal of sacred music and traditional hymns.  Maybe the congregation will join in and maybe not - no panic.  A few thoughts.  Read Fr Longenecker's post and think about it.

Blessed John Paul's II Hymn A Running Success

Do you remember that moment when Pope John Paul was declared Blessed and his image was unveiled from the balcony of St Peter's, and when the two sisters brought the relics to the Pope?  Those very emotional moments were accompanied by the official hymn to the new Blessed which definitely heightened the atmosphere. 

Well according to RomeReports the hymn is turning out to be a big success and bringing its composer, Mgr Marco Frisina to the world's attention.  Very nice.  I hope it will feature on a CD soon.  The music is catchy yet solemn, and pulls on the emotions.   Here's the report.

A Little Bit Of Music

When I was studying in Rome some seminarian friends and myself liked to escape the seminary (with permission) to see the city and some of its cultural events. I remember one jaunt was to attend a production of Tosca - having been trained as an opera singer, the lads liked to get me back into familiar ground.  Well  the performance was abysmal, we still talk about it, it was the best night ever!  As a friend Timmy says, "There's only one thing better than a good opera, and that's an awful one". 

One of our cultural expeditions was to a concert in St John Lateran's in which Roman priest and composer Mgr Marco Frisina was premiering a new work.  It was a great night, and although the choir seemed a bit unruly at first, they were beautiful singers.  Mgr Frisina has been in the limelight over the last couple of weeks or so as the beatification of Blessed John Paul loomed - his music was used for many of the events.  His works are really nice - melodic and spiritual.  He is no James McMillan, but he has a nice touch.  He wrote the new hymn for Blessed John Paul's beatification, and the rousing "Jesus Christ, You are my Life", originally composed for World Youth Day, also used during the beatification ceremonies.

Anyway, for your pleasure and meditation, two of Mgr Frisina's works: his beautiful setting of the Anima Christi, and, given it is the First Saturday, his Magnificat in honour of our Holy Mother.

Something Seasonal...

As Christmas is coming, and we all need cheering up, a little something seasonal.  Of late I have come across Sufjan Stevens, a folk indie singer-songwriter.  He had a hit with a song "Chicago" a few years ago.  Well he has brought out a Christmas album, five CDs with his own version of many famous Advent and Christmas carols, together with a few of his own composition.  Apparently he writes a Christmas song for his friends every year and someone suggested he compile them into a record. 

Anyway, the song I have been listening to the last few days is his "Put The Lights On The Tree".  It's simple, but catchy, quirky, and I like it.  The message is not too bad either. 

Blessed Cecilia, Appear In Visions!

For those involved in music, today's feast day is a great solemnity - St Cecilia's day.  In my pre-priest days, when singing, many times I invoked the holy virgin and martyr of Rome as I went to face the terror of the audience, praying my voice would hold up and that my singing teacher would be filled with divine charity should anything go wrong!  Thankfully, good old Ciss up in the heavenly choir heard the prayer!

We know something about St Cecilia.  She was a Christian of Rome who suffered for the faith around the year 250 or so.  She was married, but remained a virgin while converting her husband, St Valerian, and his brother: they would also be martyred for the faith.  Her persecutors tried a few times to dispatch her, finally trying to behead her, making a bags of the job and leaving her to die: she lingered for a few days.  She was buried in the Catacombs of St Callistus, near the chamber of the popes - so she must have been a notable figure in the Church of Rome.  Her body was translated to a church built over her home after the persecution ended.  In the 1599 her body was exhumed and found incorrupt: the sculptor Stefano Moderno preserved in a marble statue an image of the body as it was found at that time.

Cecilia is often depicted with a musical instrument - a pipe organ, violin, even a double bass!   There is little chance she played a musical instrument, she may even have been tone deaf, but she is the patron of music and musicians because we are told in one of the ancient Acts of her martyrdom, that she was singing a hymn to the Lord in her heart when she was being married to Valerian - a sign that God was the first in her life and she was determined to remain true to him.  She did, her martyrdom is proof enough of that.  So her patronage evolves from an image used to reveal her absolute fidelity to God and her love of him.  That is the lesson for us today.  Our musician friends can also see that, like Cecilia, they are invited to offer a hymn of praise to him through their lives and their work.  So today, we pray for all musicians, may their patroness watch over them, intercede for needs and bring them to the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.

As you would expect there are many musical works about and dedicated to St Cecilia.  One of my favourites is Benjamin Britten's Hymn to St Cecilia, a setting of a poem by W H Auden.  I used to love Britten, particularly his sacred works, but in the last few years I have chilled towards them: technically interesting, they lack a warmth and devotion which should really distinguish sacred music from other types.  The Hymn to St Cecilia still bears up somewhat, despite being written by Auden, a man not known for faith.  The poem is quite secular and strange, but its chorus is lovely:

Blessed Cecilia appear in visions

to all musicians appear and inspire.

Translated daughter come down and startle

composing mortals with immortal fire.

In honour of our Saint, here is a video of the piece.  Interestingly today is the anniversary of Britten's birth, appropriate for one who would be a composer.

Prayer for the feast of St Cecilia

Blessed Cecilia,
beloved virgin of Christ and martyr,
listen to our prayers and assist us in our needs.
For all musicians obtain from God the grace
to come to know and love him
who has blessed them with such wonderful graces and talents
so in their hearts, their lives and their works
they may praise him, as you did.
Help them, dear Saint,
that through faith, hope and love,
they may they come into his presence,
leading others through their fidelity
and evangelical witness of their music.

Let us pray.

Lord of mercy,
be close to those who call upon you.
With St Cecilia to help us
hear and answer our prayers.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Firm in Faith

The World Youth Day 2011 organisers have released the WYD 2011 hymn, Firmes en la Fe (Firm in Faith).  It has three versions - one liturgical, one instrumental and then the pop version to get the young people singing.  Not a bad idea at all.  I am between two minds with regard to this hymn, though.

While we all agree that music for the liturgy must be appropriate, there must also be room for a more popular brand which draws young people into faith.  Interestingly if we look at the history of the Church we see that popular ballad type music was a major weapon in the arsenal of a number of heretical movements.  Arius notoriously used popular music to promote his theology, and as people sang his songs they came to believe what he preached in the lyrics - that Jesus was only a man.  I know James MacMillan has advised we do away with the guitars and bring back sacred silence, and I agree with him,  but I think we also have to find a way of including good pop-style music, not so much in the liturgy, but in festive faith gatherings for our young.  But, as we know, that is vexed question.

Here is the page with the new WYD 2011 hymn in its various forms (includes sheet music):

http://www.madrid11.com/en/press-office/downloads/346-himno-2011