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Views from the Choir Loft

Missionaries

Aurelio Porfiri · July 29, 2014

0319_jaricot-LG WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS people that aren’t as popular today as they were decades ago: I am talking about missionaries. Yes, these men and women leave their countries to go in foreign lands and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus. Today they are out of fashion, because most of the countries where they were sent to many years ago are now more prosperous than their countries of provenience; and when people become prosperous religion becomes an accessory.

As you know I live in Macau, China. I am always amazed at the work of these men and women that here, in the same city where I walk every day, bring not only the Word of Jesus, but also the fruits of western civilization (developed also thanks to Christianity). I think about Matteo Ricci, ready to go to China and share with the Chinese, among other things, western music; I also think about Alessandro Valignano, that created the first University in Asia, the college of Saint Paul; I think about Robert Morrison, a protestant missionary, working on his translation of the Bible in Chinese; I think about Gabriele Allegra, now Blessed, taking care of the lepers in the colony of Ka Ho….and I see countless others that together with the Gospel also announce the splendor of our art, culture, and civilization.

Some people, usually politically correct cynic people, will start to shout about the imposition of a foreign culture to a local population. But these were gifts, and if you receive a beautiful gift, even coming from the other part of the world, you do not think to refuse it. For example: over the years I have met with many students from the pre-seminary school here, all of them pure Chinese and all of them with the memories of their far ago years of studies. When they talk about those years, knowing I am a musician, they will sing some chant or motet they remember, all in Latin. Does any one of them show any regret for that? No. Indeed, they can appreciate the beauty and spirituality of this music.

But other people prefer to substitute the treasures of our tradition with the so called contemporary style. And so comes my question: isn’t that coming from outside? Asians invented pop music? Or Italians? Or is this a phenomenon developed in Anglo-Saxon countries? I have come to dislike politically correct people. They are the ones that, as Oscar Wilde put it, know the prices of everything but the value of nothing. Maybe today we need missionaries of a different kind, ready to announce the beauty of our faith and tradition with an understanding of the new needs of a changing world.


BOTTEGA • Aurelio Porfiri is where you can discover
many of Mæstro Porfiri’s compositions in PDF format.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Aurelio Porfiri

Renowned as composer, conductor, theorist, author, pedagogue, and organist, Aurelio Porfiri has served the Church on multiple continents at the highest levels. Born and raised in Italy, he currently serves as Director of Choral Activities and Composer in Residence for Santa Rosa de Lima School (Macao, China).

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    Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording
    As I explained in my article posted earlier today, Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland is actually a Catholic tune (in spite of what some have claimed). The volunteer choir I direct sang that beautiful ADVENT melody last Sunday, and I invite you to listen to the live recording. It will get better the more we sing it.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Message from the Vice-President!
    The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn
    A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!”   Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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There is a lack of that kind of organization which favors mature judgment. Move on, move on, get it out. Schemata are multiplied without ever arriving at a considered form. The system of discussion is bad … Often the schemata arrive just before the discussions. Sometimes, and in important matters, such as the new anaphoras, the schema was distributed the evening before the discussion was to take place … Father Bugnini has only one interest: press ahead and finish.

— Cardinal Antonelli (Peritus during the Second Vatican Council)

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