A CULTURAL PROJECT BORN IN JERUSALEM INSPIRED BY LITURGICAL PIECES TAKEN FROM TWELVE DIFFERENT CHRISTIAN MUSICAL TRADITIONS
A CALL FOR INCREASED MUTUAL AWARENESS BETWEEN THE EASTERN AND THE WESTERN CHURCHES AND FOR THE RESPECT OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
On September 22, 2012, in the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, all Christian heads of Churches and Communities are invited to gather under the open sky in front of the walls of the Holy Town for an extraordinary concert: the world première of the Eucharistic Symphony. The Symphony will be broadcast live by Christian TV channels on several continents, and also recorded for the edition of a musical DVD.
One of the latest compositions of the titular organist of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem for the Roman Catholic Church, the Italian musician Maestro Armando Pierucci, the “Eucharistic Symphony” was written upon commission of Mr. Arnoldo Mosca Mondadori, the President of the Milan Conservatory of Music. It is inspired by liturgical pieces ordinarily sung during the Eucharistic liturgy from twelve different Christian musical traditions in the Holy Town, with twelve corresponding movements and an introduction on a Jewish theme. It will be performed by the Duni Choir and Orchestra of the Matera Conservatory of Music, directed by Maestro Carmine Antonio Catenazzo, with Carlo Rotunno as baritone singer.
In itself a Western piece in nature but using themes in the antique musical modes of the Eastern traditions, no longer in usage in Western music, the Eucharistic Symphony is not only musically unique, but also highly symbolical: it shall give a sight of the beauty and harmony of the rich different Christian traditions interacting precisely “in symphony”, a vision of Christian communion expressed through the Art of Music; it is meant to be an invitation to all Christians to become more aware of their own Church and liturgical tradition, which reflect their history and cultural identity, as well as to discover with loving care the multiplicity of traditions of other Christian Churches. To respect the value and tradition of the original pieces, these will also be sung “a cappella” by twelve Church representatives, before the orchestra and the choir perform the Symphonic development inspired by it.
The project is promoted by Arnoldo Mosca Mondadori’s Italian Foundation “CASA DELLO SPIRITO E DELLE ARTI”, by the MATERA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC and by the Swiss based ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER OF ALL CHURCHES FOR RECONCILIATION, UNITY AND PEACE, BEGINNING IN AND PROCEEDING FROM JERUSALEM, WHICH, promoter of the homonymous intercessory prayer initiative for our time conducted by the Jerusalem Churches.
On September 25, 2012, immediately following the Jerusalem performance, a secular concert centered on the theme of Religious Freedom, also promoted by the Swiss Foundation “CARITAS IN VERITATE” (linked to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See at the United Nations), and by several States (Vatican City, Greece, Lebanon, Armenia, Romania, Marocco, Palestine, Sovereign Order of Malta), will be hosted at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, one of the most important centers of multicultural diplomacy in the world, as well as an essential place for major international public debate. Religious Freedom is in fact increasingly threatened in many parts of the world, and particularly, in this time of changes experienced in the countries of the Near and Middle East. With the diplomatic corps of the United Nations as main public and, in addition to the twelve movements inspired by Christian traditions, two inspired respectively by the Jewish and Muslim ones, the Geneva concert will also constitute a strong witnessing in front of the community of Nations.
Other concerts open to the general public are foreseen in other two very significant towns, on September 26 and 29, 2012, respectively in the Milan Duomo, and in Matera the "Western Jerusalem", in two cities of the North and South of Italy, which, historically, have each known the influence of both the Eastern and the Western traditions of the Church.
The Eucharistic Symphony is a project with multiple dimensions: spiritual and secular, Christian and universal. From the Holy City for the three great monotheistic religions to the heart of the international political scene, with a vocation to then diffuse to the general public: Through Art and Beauty, the promoters of the Symphony wish to give to our time - a time of change and uncertainty - a strong message of Reconciliation, Unity and Peace, addressing religious and political authorities alike, as well as the general public. And this, beginning from Jerusalem.
Presentation video: www.prayrup.info/en/news
Contact and information: infoprup@prayrup.info
A CALL FOR INCREASED MUTUAL AWARENESS BETWEEN THE EASTERN AND THE WESTERN CHURCHES AND FOR THE RESPECT OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
On September 22, 2012, in the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, all Christian heads of Churches and Communities are invited to gather under the open sky in front of the walls of the Holy Town for an extraordinary concert: the world première of the Eucharistic Symphony. The Symphony will be broadcast live by Christian TV channels on several continents, and also recorded for the edition of a musical DVD.
One of the latest compositions of the titular organist of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem for the Roman Catholic Church, the Italian musician Maestro Armando Pierucci, the “Eucharistic Symphony” was written upon commission of Mr. Arnoldo Mosca Mondadori, the President of the Milan Conservatory of Music. It is inspired by liturgical pieces ordinarily sung during the Eucharistic liturgy from twelve different Christian musical traditions in the Holy Town, with twelve corresponding movements and an introduction on a Jewish theme. It will be performed by the Duni Choir and Orchestra of the Matera Conservatory of Music, directed by Maestro Carmine Antonio Catenazzo, with Carlo Rotunno as baritone singer.
In itself a Western piece in nature but using themes in the antique musical modes of the Eastern traditions, no longer in usage in Western music, the Eucharistic Symphony is not only musically unique, but also highly symbolical: it shall give a sight of the beauty and harmony of the rich different Christian traditions interacting precisely “in symphony”, a vision of Christian communion expressed through the Art of Music; it is meant to be an invitation to all Christians to become more aware of their own Church and liturgical tradition, which reflect their history and cultural identity, as well as to discover with loving care the multiplicity of traditions of other Christian Churches. To respect the value and tradition of the original pieces, these will also be sung “a cappella” by twelve Church representatives, before the orchestra and the choir perform the Symphonic development inspired by it.
The project is promoted by Arnoldo Mosca Mondadori’s Italian Foundation “CASA DELLO SPIRITO E DELLE ARTI”, by the MATERA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC and by the Swiss based ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER OF ALL CHURCHES FOR RECONCILIATION, UNITY AND PEACE, BEGINNING IN AND PROCEEDING FROM JERUSALEM, WHICH, promoter of the homonymous intercessory prayer initiative for our time conducted by the Jerusalem Churches.
On September 25, 2012, immediately following the Jerusalem performance, a secular concert centered on the theme of Religious Freedom, also promoted by the Swiss Foundation “CARITAS IN VERITATE” (linked to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See at the United Nations), and by several States (Vatican City, Greece, Lebanon, Armenia, Romania, Marocco, Palestine, Sovereign Order of Malta), will be hosted at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, one of the most important centers of multicultural diplomacy in the world, as well as an essential place for major international public debate. Religious Freedom is in fact increasingly threatened in many parts of the world, and particularly, in this time of changes experienced in the countries of the Near and Middle East. With the diplomatic corps of the United Nations as main public and, in addition to the twelve movements inspired by Christian traditions, two inspired respectively by the Jewish and Muslim ones, the Geneva concert will also constitute a strong witnessing in front of the community of Nations.
Other concerts open to the general public are foreseen in other two very significant towns, on September 26 and 29, 2012, respectively in the Milan Duomo, and in Matera the "Western Jerusalem", in two cities of the North and South of Italy, which, historically, have each known the influence of both the Eastern and the Western traditions of the Church.
The Eucharistic Symphony is a project with multiple dimensions: spiritual and secular, Christian and universal. From the Holy City for the three great monotheistic religions to the heart of the international political scene, with a vocation to then diffuse to the general public: Through Art and Beauty, the promoters of the Symphony wish to give to our time - a time of change and uncertainty - a strong message of Reconciliation, Unity and Peace, addressing religious and political authorities alike, as well as the general public. And this, beginning from Jerusalem.
Presentation video: www.prayrup.info/en/news
Contact and information: infoprup@prayrup.info