Hi! My name is Aiya, I am from Kazakhstan, and this is my first show on Continental Drift!
Today we will talk about music of Vatican, and I am very thankful to my Catholic friend Dariya for sending me so much of what we will play today.
The legend goes that Miserere mei, composed by Gregorio Allegri, was prohibited from being transcribed and the copies available lacked the ornamentations that made the piece stand out. However, 14 year old Mozart heard the performance of the piece and transcribed it from memory after hearing it only once. Pope later awarded him for his talents.
Even though the legend seems to be disputed nowadays, it is a cool story to tell.
What is true is that the piece went viral recently because of the guy who sings the high notes with the help of a helium balloon.
La Peregrinacion by Ariel Ramirez describes Joseph and Mary's journey to Egypt, and it emphasizes their exhaustion and their search for shelter.
The fun fact: it was remade by Paul Mauriat to be the opening of a Russian TV show "In the animal kingdom".
Next we will listen to Pope Leo blessing a rave which is conducted by Padre Guilherme (he is also on Spotify!).
Fun fact: Pope Leo loves Michael Bubble, he came to Bubble's concert and people caught him on camera singing, which is just so cute.
Now for modern composers, - next work is by Marco Frisina.
My friend likes the last line of the psalm - "let everything that has breath praise the Lord".
Next we will talk about this insanely cool woman, Hildegard of Bingen (born in 1098), who is also known as Saint Hildegard or the Sibyl of the Rhine. She was an abbess and a polymath: she practiced philosophy, botany, theology, mysticism, poetry, and medicine. Moreover, scholars think of her as the founder of natural history in Germany. I told you, she is very very cool. She also invented a constructed language Lingua Ignota. I am just going to leave the Wikipedia link here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hildegard_of_Bingen.
Music-wise, she is considered to be one of the best-known composers of sacred monophony. Sacred monophony is a style of religious music, which features a single, unaccompanied melodic line, and would be often sung in unison or octaves, without harmonic accompaniment, so that it can emphasize clear, prayerful text delivery. She is one of those rare composers who would write both the music and the words.
Up next: Ave Verum (Adagio in G minor) by Albinoni.
Just insanely pretty.
Also, guess what? Antonio Vivaldi was a priest!
My friend joked this is now known as the adagio of Sarah Brightman - Ave Maria.
So since you probably heard the one by Sarah, let us maybe play the rendition by Barbara Bonney.
Some Gregorian chants for you next.
Apparently this piece got famous recently because of "Queen's Gambit". I feel like this episode should be called - "Catholic music you heard but didn't know the name of".
This is the performance by Andrea Bocelli and Teddy Swims "Amazing Grace" at St. Peter’s Square for Vatican’s 2025 Jubilee Year. I do think they did Teddy dirty by not mic-ing him up better.
Some Creol music in Vatican! Misa Criolla is by an Argentine composer Ariel Ramírez, who blends traditional Spanish liturgical text with indigenous Andean rhythms and instruments.
Must have for Christmas.
Of course, Mozart's Lacrimosa.
The recording of the episode will be here soon. Until then, enjoy the music!