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MEDJUGORJE
TORINO
N° 45 2003
MOVEMENTS OF
JOY AND HOPE
Renzo Allegri (jourmalist
and writer)
e-mail: renzo@editorialegliolmi.it
 This is the third
article I have written in our magazine about “Christian
music”. I have written these articles because I feel strongly
that this is a very important movement for conveying ideas, hopes,
joy and values to people. It can get across a way of looking at
life and history that takes its inspiration from the Gospel.
In my previous two articles I mentioned some artistes from this
movement. I chose names that would be the best known to the
general public, particularly outsiders. It is perhaps true that I
neglected some very important people, the “founding fathers”
of the movement, artistes who have breathed life into these ideas,
and some readers have pointed this out. It is right that we should
mention everyone, but space is short and the aim is to draw
attention to the subject rather than mentioning individuals.
Thanks to the many emails received, I have realised that the
Movement is really quite significant, alive, full of energy and
ideas. The Movement is made up of marvellous people, groups that
get on very well with each other. Unfortunately, single
individuals and the various groups are often isolated, left alone.
I feel an overall guide is needed, a charismatic leadership that
can forge unity out of diversity. Each artiste must be able to
express himself as he sees fit, but in this field there is only
one objective that we should strive to achieve.
In addition to the artistes, there are also events and
associations that are part of this movement and which are worthy
of mention. In the last issue, I mentioned the association “Il
mio Dio canta giovane”, led by Don Matteo Zambuto, who is a
singer-songwriter himself. Contact: dreisnc@libero.it
Another very active association is that called “San Massimiliano
Maria Kolbe”, based at Schio in the Province of Vicenza. The
association also runs a satellite broadcasting station “Radio
Kolbe”. Various events are organised by the association every
year, including – in collaboration with the Municipality of
Schio – a Meeting entitled “Il mondo canta Maria”. This
involves a large concert on this theme with Italian artistes and
many foreign guests; the concert has now become known as a musical
event and is followed with interest also by the lay press. http://www.ilmondocantamaria.it/
An excellent initiative was undertaken by the Regional Council for
Youth Activities and the Youth Pastoral Service of the Diocese of
Cagliari which, on the occasion of the 4th Regional Youth
Pilgrimage, organised the 1st Regional Festival of Christian
Music. The initiative was promoted by Don Gabriele Casu, a young
priest belonging to the Diocese of Cagliari, Sardinia, and a
Delegate for the Youth Pastoral Service. (doncheese@libero.it)
A Christian Music Meeting, now in its third year, is held at
Acquarossa in the Val del Belnio in the Italian-speaking part of
Switzerland. It is called “Insieme per un mondo d’amore”.
The “International Meeting of Religious Song” is held at
Caposele in the Province of Avellino.
The “Regnum Dei” Meeting is held at the Oasi San Giacomo at
Vago di Lavagno in the Province of Verona.
Some directors, scriptwriters and multimedia experts, wishing to
heed the invitation of John Paul II to do their best for a “Life
Culture”, founded “Shineout”. This is a new project intended
exclusively to work towards the “New Evangelisation” through
the means of social communication.
They want to prepare a series of television projects, starting
first of all with the systematic recording of Christian inspired
music videos. In collaboration with Listen4Life, Cançao Nova and
other Catholic television organisations, they have come up with an
international format for distributing the best musical works.
They explain: “We believe in Christian music and in its enormous
potential. We think that if this music is at last made visible and
suitably distributed, it could help the younger generation to
develop both as human beings and as regards their faith”.
Contact: info@shineout.it
I would like to end by mentioning another worthwhile initiative,
although it is not strictly part of Christian music in the narrow
sense. This is the “Cantare suonando” Cultural Association for
voluntary work and solidarity, formed in Trento in January 1997
and which now also has a centre at Schio, in the Province of
Vicenza. The founders of the Association are Marco Porcelli, a
qualified piano teacher, and his wife, Silvia, also a qualified
piano teacher. As stated in its constitution, the aim of the
Association is to “dedicate itself to the teaching of art and
culture, and in particular music, through the individual
learning of musical notation and the performing in public of
concerts by the disabled and by disadvantaged young and elderly
people. The instruments employed are the pianoforte and electronic
keyboard.”
The physically and mentally disabled currently followed by Maestro
Porcelli and his wife number 20 in the Trentino and 11 at Schio.
These musicians can already boast a full curriculum of concerts
and have also made a CD “Musica per vivere”, a collection of
songs composed by Marco Porcelli together with some “spontaneous
pieces” by some of his pupils. The CD was arranged and produced
by the singer-songwriter Goran Kuzminac, with the collaboration of
Lincoln Veronese and Sergio Contin. Some of the poetic texts for
the songs on the CD were written with the help of the young
people. Contact: PORCELLI MARCO – Via Petrarca 28, 38100 Trento,
mobile 339 3943417.
Renzo Allegri
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