Posts Tagged ‘catholic’

Madonna’s Greatest Hits

Monday, May 11th, 2009

madonnasoccoroso1

There is always something to celebrate in Montalcino.

This past weekend was the celebration of their patron saint:  Madonna di Soccorso.

Her image saved the day from a seige by the Spaniards  in the 1500′s, and since then the 8th of May is always a big deal with parades, church masses, first communion, community suppers, tombola(italian bingo), and more.  This ends with Mothers Day.  

pianellobanner

I was asked to play the organ in the exquisitely beautiful Madonna church for the Archbishop of Siena and all went well on yet another relic organ.

The Italian people really venerate the past and teach their children to hold it dear also. Though outsiders, a few Montalcinese have opened their hearts to us, and in giving back in some small way, we are  a little bit Montalcino and a little bit Catholic!

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Posted in Church, Europe Trip 2009, Italy | 1 Comment »

Maundy Thursday Organist

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

organloftduomo
The Duomo was  the site tonight of the inaugural playing by me of Catholic Liturgy!  I was suspended 3 stories above the altar area in front of the pipes of an organ from the year 1858 with bellows and all.  It was a very meaningful service: Father Piernino washed duomoorganthe feet of 12 men, then communion followed by a silent procession over to a narthex which was decorated like a garden to represent the Garden of Gethsemane. 

I played for about 8 different chants.  We seemed to be together, but the acoustics were really reverberating up to me.  I don’t get freedom to play any prelude or anything, it’s by the book .  Steve hung out with me in the balcony to keep me apprised of what  was happening down below as I had no visual.  There were no bats in the belfry, but I didn’t look to closely.  There is a huge dome above this photo.

This Saturday I play at 10 pm and somehow it involves fire (?) (“…He descended into hell…”).  Then again at 9am and 11 am on sunday.  It has been a little nervewracking, but an experience I will never forget.  Maybe Father Piernino will let the Pope know, and I can have and audience with Him when I get to Rome.

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Posted in Church, Europe Trip 2009, Italy | 1 Comment »

Holy Week, Italian Style

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

There are 9 churches in Montalcino.  The town in the 1400′s was about 15,000 people, now 5000 live here and there.  There are no resident priests.  They come from an Abbey down the hill and travel from congregation to congregation within the village on Sunday. 

clocktowermontalcinoWe attended a catholic mass at 9am, Palm Sunday.  Everyone got olive branches (when in Rome…).  Then the Father jumped in his car and went across town (1/4 mile) and did it all over again.   Both churches had pipes and organ consuls but were silent.  The congregation at the first was all seniors, but there were families at the second (10:30 service).  We engaged the Padre in conversation (he spoke French and Italian only) and the long and short of it is that I volunteered to play the organ for Pasqua (Easter) services.  I think he was genuinely excited because I am booked for the Saturday 10pm service at one church, and the Sunday 9 and 10:30 at two other churches.

I explained “No, sono catolico” but he said it was ok, because it was the same God!   I meet with Padre Piernino tomorrow at Church #1 at 6pm for a look at the first church and to learn (?) Catholic liturgy. 

I can’t imagine not playing on an Easter Sunday, I guess God couldn’t either. May it be to His glory, not mine!!

What an honor to play in these ancient churches …Amazing!

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Posted in Church, Europe Trip 2009, Italy | 8 Comments »