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CONCERT SUGGESTION“MIHI VIVERE CHRISTUS EST“Paul and the mystery of Christ: a journey with Gregorian chant “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus...: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season” (2Tim.4,1). Thus Paul spoke to Timothy in his last “solemn recommendations”, placing the value of the proclamation the Word before the actual situation of the announcement. An out-of season occasion, in other words an extra-liturgical context, does not cancel the dimension of the announcement if it happens during the meeting with the Word: the Word surpasses the situation and the Gregorian chant, “liturgy of the Word”, however remains “sound of the Word” even if it lacks its cultural background. This programme concentrates its own attention on the meditation that Gregorian chant has reserved for the texts of Paul, from which it has drawn with a certain amount of parsimony and with skilful wisdom. Although it is not possible, by means of this single route, to trace a complete picture of the overflowing richness of the letters of Paul, the succession of pieces allows some of the central themes of the life and the preaching of the apostle of the people to emerge with clarity, from his conversion (Ant. Saule, Saule) to the conclusion of his unique and suffering experience of faith (Resp. Bonum certamen). But the Easter event of the Crucifixion - Resurrection constantly established itself as the absolute centre of his fortunes and thoughts; it is actually in the paradox of the cross, in the extreme abandonment of Christ and in his resurrection that Paul sees the destiny of salvation of man. The death and resurrection of Christ, never separated, reveal the truth about the man who is by grace and faith connected to the life of God himself through Christ. In him we live (Ant. Mihi vivere), in him we suffer and die (In Nos autem gloriari...in cruce), in him we are risen again (Co Si consurrexisti), by him we are clothed (Co Omnes qui in Christo) and fed (Co Hoc corpus). The message of Paul is the knowledge, or rather, the “all-encompassing knowledge” of Christ, understood not as a mere intellectual or philosophical exercise, but exactly the opposite, as a synonym of “charitas”, in other words, love (Ant. Maneant in vobis, In Caritas Dei). And whoever sings Gregorian chant is convinced that the ancient and anonymous musical codes are nothing more than a deep and concrete expression of love for the Word. The interpretation based on these codes is aimed at meditating on the texts in the same way and is aimed at a tuneful response, in the least shameful way possible |
