Eucharistic Symphony in Gethsemane

Garden of Gethsemane

On Saturday, 22 September, in the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, all Christian heads of Churches and Communities gathered under the open sky in front of the walls of the Holy City for an extraordinary concert: the world première of the Eucharistic Symphony.

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 by 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 City, 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 see a video presentation click here: www.fmc-terrasanta.org/en/actuality-events-and-society.html?vid=2588

Many thanks to Jan Bidaud for telling us about this.

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