Catholic Patron Saints of Music

 

Tomoko converted to Catholicism in college. One of the unique features of that religion is its famous saints. Several of those saints have special meaning for musicians.

Saint Cecilia is the most famous patroness of musicians. According to legend, she heard heavenly music as she was being wed to a pagan. She told her husband-to-be that she was already betrothed to an angel. When he asked to see that angel, he actually did – and was converted.

Saint Gregory lends his name to Gregorian chant. Why? Because this 6^th century Pope created this kind of monophonic music to accompany liturgical texts.  

Saint Dunstan restored monastic life in 9^th century England, and served as a minute of state to kings. Later in life he taught in Canterbury’s Cathedral school and wrote hymns.

Saint Hildegard Von Bingen, a German who lived in the 12^th century, is considered one of the most prolific and respected composer of liturgical music. She also wrote the musical morality play “Ordo Virtutum.”

Tomoko and many other musicians may have felt the guidance of these saints as they performed and taught music.

Japanese Catholicism and Its Saints

This week, Saint Patrick’s Day is being celebrated worldwide, including in Japan, where fifteen parades and Irish festivals occur this time every year. The paraders are all Japanese: step dancers, harp players, and céilidh bands. While Japan is typically associated with Shintoism, the Catholic Church has a long history in that country, including their own Catholic saints.

 Indeed, Nagasaki was founded in the mid 16h century by Portuguese Catholics with the hope that it the city would become a significant Christian center for the Far East. The Japanese government first supported the missionaries because the potential for trade with Spain and Portugal, but by the end of the century, that same government became threatened by foreign influence and possible colonialism. Part of the way that the government responded was to ban Christianity and persecute Catholics. As a result, in Catholic history, Nagasaki became known for the 26 Catholics martyrs crucified there in 1597. One of the martyrs was the Jesuit priest Paul Miki, who was sainted; the day of the crucifixion became his feast day: February 6. Since then Catholicism has faced challenges in Japan, and finally experienced acceptance with about half a million practitioners. Nevertheless, in some Japanese circles, Catholicism is still viewed as a foreign religion.

 As for Tomoko, she served as an organist for the nearby Catholic cathedral while in college, and she converted to Catholicism just before she graduated. Tomoko’s experience at the cathedral was deeply artistic and visceral. “Both the Dominicans there and the whole Catholic mindset reflected international values of care and service,” she recalled. Catholics are worldwide and have universal values – as does music.

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The Religious Life in Music

This is the season of Lent, and soon Easter will be here. The Christian religion is known for its musical traditions: from Gregorian charts to gospel music. Tomoko has experienced the religious aspects of music all her life.

Tomoko first heard religious music from her mother, who would sing church songs as she cleaned the house. Tomoko went to a prestigious high school run by the Dutch Reformed Church, and she accompanied school choirs who sang religious and secular songs. “By then, Christianity was more accepted,” Tomoko notes. For centuries, Japan resisted outside religions, largely because it was feared that religious groups would disturb Japanese traditions. Catholics survived “underground” for 400 years. Nevertheless, Tomoko’s brother became Catholic, and he helped Tomoko get a job playing at Catholic masses while she was studying in college.

Indeed, Tomoko first learned piano playing from her brother, who took lessons; she would follow him, and asked her parents for lessons as well. The two of them would practice on the family’s one piano. “Sometimes we played four-hand music,” Tomoko remembers. “We would switch parts when doing duets, which helped me understand symphonies with their many parts.” Tomoko’s brother later became a professional composer.

Tomoko has performed piano pieces of  several composers who wrote religious music, Bach being the most famous. Liszt, who is not known for Christian music, was still a deeply religious man. “Did you know that he joined a monastery?” Tomoko asks.

Tomoko also appreciates the communal nature of religious music. “People can express their belief together when they sing religious music.” Tomoko relates the experience to nature. “Like nature’s sound, religious music can be uplifting and profound.” And Tomoko loves the sound of music in cathedrals with their vaulting ceilings and reverberating walls. “Even non-religious music feels like a religious experience when played in a lofty church,” contends Tomoko.