Professor Haim Baharier often repeats a phrase his father told him when he was a shy child: “Don’t make yourself so small, because you’re not that great”.¹ Baharier explains that there is often a certain arrogance hidden behind modesty, and that “being truly humble is not within everyone’s reach”. We should be wary of those who shrink too easily before our eyes, but we should also admire those who have truly managed to make themselves small among giants – for that is no small feat. It’s easy to see what drew us to the little church of Gregorio, which for ten centuries has stood quietly but steadfastly in daily dialogue with the majestic Basilica of Nicola the wonderworker, its beloved neighbour, in a timeless challenge to the true meaning of beauty.

The only survivor of the destruction of the small churches in the area – demolished to make way for the great Basilica – San Gregorio degli Armeni is now the oldest consecrated church in Bari. And even within our family, as we mentioned in the invitation, we can proudly claim an “ancient” link with it: Paola and Antonio got married there on 8 June 2000! Could we have chosen a better place for our ceremony? Coming from the sea, just a few steps away, the sight of San Gregorio welcomes you into the fragrant square, whispering: “You are about to see one of the most enchanting places ever built by human hands, but don’t worry – I’ll hold your hand. You are part of the family”.

Once we had found the perfect location, the next question was how best to fill it with music. As a proud representative of the glorious Cantico Nuovo choir of Traversetolo, I naturally set out to find a vocal ensemble. And so it was at the Parma Conservatory – in the classical guitar class (small world, right Dad?) – that a young musician from Apulia, an old friend of Virgi’s, was studying. He is a fine member of the Consonare Ensemble, a group of musicians and singers from all over Apulia, based just outside Bari. We contacted him immediately and can never thank him enough for the enthusiasm with which he immediately embraced our proposal.

The director, Luigi Leo, is not only a highly respected professor, but also an unstoppable founder of choirs – at least six so far! With these ensembles he regularly performs all over Italy, from Matera to Udine. The young Consonare Ensemble, of which we will hear the voices of eight members (the most qualified, of course), has already won first prizes in prestigious national choral competitions.

But more than the pro’s, we want to hear your voices! Don’t forget to read the repertoire article and familiarise yourself with the music and lyrics. A celebration is only truly meaningful if it is participative – especially in singing. And when the director looks at us and the assembly responds to his call with strength (without worrying too much here about perfect intonation), then the whole square will truly resound with joy!

1. Here is an interview where the quote is better contextualized: http://www.acote.it/formazione/blog/dettaglio/?idb=11 ↩︎