Episode 8 of Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast is here, in which we discuss with Lisa Knutson the musical heritage of the Jesuit Reductions of South America, imprinted on the hearts which the Jesuits converted to Our Lord in their work there.
We also discuss the principles of the Jesuit charism, which saw the use of instruments and training in the arts as a means of both catechesis and evangelization, and we touch on the work of Jesuits like Frs Anton Sepp and Domenico Zipoli.
We also talk about Lisa’s work in financially-challenged areas in Minnesota and Philadelphia to draw people to Christ through sacred music and music education.
For more information, check out these links that we also give on the show notes page.
The Zipoli Institute has a lot of great resources available for musicians, especially for those working with Spanish-language choirs and liturgies. Check out the work of Lisa and her husband Nathan at the Zipoli Institute here: https://domenicozipoli.org
This article from the New York Times on the legacy of the music education of the Jesuits in Bolivia is also an interesting glimpse into the continuing fruits of the work of the missionaries: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/world/americas/bolivia-baroque-music.html
And here are some great recordings of the music of Domenico Zipoli, SJ. Vespers for the Feast of St. Ignatius:
A sacred opera on the Life of St. Ignatius:
