Magnificat at San Salvatore

October 13, 2014

After a day to recoup from Galilee, two full days of very successful teaching--David is a hit at Dar al-Kalima--and Sunday service music contributions, we were able to go to Jerusalem to make contact with another prominent choral director in the area--proving to be one of our best days among many great ones already.

If we enter the New Gate of the Old City (Northwest corner of the wall), take an immediate left, and pass under an archway with the words "Terra Sancta" above, we come to one of the sweet surprises of this ancient city.  Here we find some of the property of the Franciscan Order, the Catholic "Proprietors of the Holy Land."  One this property is the Italianate church of "San Salvatore,"  a wonderful gem and the heart behind a wonderful music school.

Sanctuary of San Salvatore Church

Organ at San Salvatore

Over thirty years ago, an Italian Franciscan priest arrived at San Salvatore to be organist for one year.  Father Armando Pierucci is now about to turn 80 and never did return home to Italy, spending the years to found and nurture a music academy.  One of the children of the church, Hannia Soudah-Sabbara--baptized, confirmed and eventually married in this lovely place,  later became director of the program--the Magnificat Institute School of Music, Jerusalem--and its lead choral conductor, growing it into five choirs and 250 students in music lessons on all instruments.  The music school is largely supported by donors from Italy.  It serves Palestinian children, training them in music of the Christian Arab tradition, melding it to the Western polyphonic heritage.  The students reach a high level--particularly in piano and organ.  They have developed a curriculum using Arab melodies as the basis for teaching music reading, arranging them for voice, solo piano, and four hand piano.  Graduates of the school are now instructors and conductors themselves in the program. 

We were inspired by the visit and are eager to share the materials with Dar al-Kalima.  Hannia has invited David to come back and work with her choir next Saturday (and offered to drive us back after the rehearsal since the busses will all be done.)  

After meeting with Hannia, we got a lamb schewerma, falafel, and fresh squeezed mango juice from our now-favorite "fast-food" place in the souk down from Damascus Gate, and fought our way through the massive crowds converging on the Old City for Sukkoth.  We got out of the Old City for a quiet visit to the Dormition Abbey Church (the traditional burial place of Mary).  In the crypt there were some beautiful mosaics, including pictures of Old Testament women, including one of David's favorite characters, Ja-el (He wanted to name Susanna that;  everyone objected, so she has a name that means "a lily,"  as opposed to an axe-murderer).

Ceiling mosaics of Miriam with her tambourine and Jael with her tent peg (for driving through the enemy Sisera's head)

When we got back to Bethlehem, we enjoyed dinner together in the cafe of the Christmas Lutheran-based International Conference Center of Bethlehem  (ICB) with Pastor Mitri Raheb and his wife, Najwa (who teaches music at Dar al-Kalima).  It was a lovely evening to a great day.

 A sculpture of David with his harp in the entrance to the ICB