The one who sings, prays twice.
St. Augustine, the holy Bishop of Hippo, uttered this well-known line to imply that voices are items that the devoted can provide in worship.
Monsignor Gregorio Lazatin Canlas, Among Greg to many, had this in thoughts when he started writing songs in his early 20s.
Now 79, Among Greg by his reckoning has composed some 900 principally liturgical songs. He additionally did the musical preparations for these.
His huge physique of music are principally songs, however a few of these works embody responsorial psalms and brief hymns sung throughout a Mass.
For this, Among Greg has been referred to as the “Father of Kapampangan Liturgical Hymns,” a title he stated he holds pricey as a result of his music and lyrics aren’t only for the Church and for God, but in addition for the Kapampangan tradition and folks.
“I started to compose very simple songs using Kapampangan melodies, and I found out that the people liked them. They’re beyond the rates of ordinary music,” stated the priest who hails from Sto. Tomas, Pampanga.
After being ordained in 1967, he spent his first three months of service in a small village in Pampanga and was later referred to as to serve within the seminary.
“So I was there for four years. I was mainly in charge of the music of the seminary kasi in my own formation as a musician while I was in College in Theology, for about seven years I was fortunate enough to be the organist of the seminary sa San Carlos sa Makati,” he stated.
Among Greg credit his Belgian professor, the late Fr. John Zwaenepol, CICM, from whom he had discovered most of his liturgical music background that he now utilized in composing.
“My education back then was a bit informal,” he stated, including he continued honing his abilities by self-study.
In 1972, he flew to Paris, France the place he “really started to compose.”
“Since I was in a foreign country, I was homesick. I was really obsessed with the idea that we need songs to use in Pampanga in the vernacular,” he stated, stressing that he took the problem of making songs utilizing the
Kapampangan dialect.
“Mamatay ang aming dialect unless somebody takes up arms for it and luckily, sa pagshift ng Latin, English to Kapampangan, nasasagip ang Kapampangan language,” he stated.
In 1991, he began serving because the parish priest of St. James the Apostle Parish. Popularly generally known as Betis Church, the Baroque-style church could be present in Guagua, Pampanga.
The church is dwelling to the Philippines’ second bamboo organ, which started serenading churchgoers in 2019.
Among Greg’s songs are being utilized in each Kapampangan mass, led by the Liturgical Music Ministry referred to as “Mirabilia Dei Children’s Choir.”
Some of his standard songs similar to “Datang na ka Ginu,” “Nanung gewa mu,” King gamat mi,” and “Migising na,” are popular hymns in mass in various churches in the area.
Among Greg feels fulfilled that the people can have songs of praises in Kapampangan.
Looking back, he said, “these songs have been used for 20-30 years. Parang meronna silang sariling historical past.”
In one mass in a small village, Among Greg stated he heard individuals singing his compositions in A capella.
“See, that’s me. You have been singing my songs without knowing that I am the composer,” he stated.
He stated his inspiration in writing are principally from sacred texts, scriptures,
and liturgical events or seasons, like Christmas, Lent, Easter, and different particular Catholic events.
His compositions thus far are in 9 volumes of songbooks.
Asked about his favourite piece, he stated “That’s a tough question, para
bagang tinanong mo ang isang Ama o Ina sa mga anak niya kung sino ang paborito niya, syempre sasabihin niya, lahat mahal ko yan. Walang favoritism, but really, I can’t say which one is my best.”
One of the teams which gave life to his items was the Mirabilia Dei Children’s
Choir.
He stated he has witnessed the choir members develop up collectively singing his songs.
“God allowed this to happen, this is a blessing from God. The fact that these young kids were interested in music, wow, that inspires me,” he stated.
Among Greg stated he hopes his songs would proceed to search out their approach into many individuals.
“It’s not only for the church, I feel music is essential in life. People sing
as a result of they’re unhappy, they sing as a result of they’re pleased, all human feelings could be expressed by music. As it has been stated, once we sing, we pray twice,” he stated.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
