Sinfonía Jesuita / The Jesuit Symphony

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The Jesuit Symphony is an epic work inspired by the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The idea of writing such a symphony emerged after the composer read the book “Ignatius of Loyola, the pilgrim saint”, by the Jesuit priest José Ignacio Tellechea. The movements were written and finished in a single inspired burst and in the order they appear in the Symphony, which was originally named by the composer “Music for the festivities of St. Ignatius of Loyola”. After six months of intense work, the composition was ready. The composer dedicated the Symphony to his Alma Mater (Universidad Iberoamericana), the Jesuit University in Mexico City in which he studied Law.

In May 2005, the composer visited Rome and presented the full score to the Curia Generalizia of the Jesuits as a musical offering for the Company of Jesus. The General of the Order, father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, wrote a moving acknowledge letter:

Dear D. Venustiano:

I hold in my hands the score “Music for the festivities of St. Ignatius of Loyola”. As you say, it is a work of great dimension for orchestra and soloist in nine movements.

My first impression is of joyful surprise: you have been motivated and inspired to achieve this great musical deed, which “tends to be Ignatian and claims to be fed by the spirit of the Company of Jesus”, by, on one hand, the reading of the life of St. Ignatius by José Antonio Tellechea, and, on the other hand, your long experience as a student and professor at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico.

Thus my feelings are of thankfulness and felicitation. Thankfulness because you have dedicated this work to Universidad Iberoamericana, your Alma Mater. And felicitation because Father Rector José Morales Orozco, S.I., has accepted the work with enthusiasm and will have it performed for the Jubilee of St. Ignatius and his two companions, St. Francis Xavier and the Blessed Peter Faber.

Because of your musical work and your Ignatian devotion Universidad Iberoamericana will be able to celebrate the Jubilees of 2006 with original music that springs from the spirit that has moved and still moves the Company of Jesus: the Greater Glory of God.

I wish your work great success. I am sorry that in your visit to Rome you only had time to deliver a copy of the score and thus it was not possible to greet you and meet you personally.

I send you my blessing and encourage you to keep fraternally working with us in the university’s apostolic mission, which is in Mexico an actual service of the Mission of Christ that fulfilled the heart of Ignatius of Loyola.

With great esteem in the Lord, Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J.

The Jesuit Symphony was recorded in the city of Puebla in July 2013 by the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Puebla (Puebla State Symphony Orchestra), Mónica Chávez as soprano soloist, and Mtro. Fernando Lozano conducting. The World Premiere of Jesuit Symphony took place at San Pedro Museo de Arte, Puebla, on July 26th, 2013. The Premiere was a huge success. The audience kept applauding for several minutes in a standing ovation. 

A Live Recording of this work by the Querétaro Philharmonic, soprano Grabriela Herrera and Guadalupe Flores is also available.

The Jesuit Symphony is an important addition to the Mexican symphonic repertoire.

Orchestration

Woodwind: 2 flutes, 1 alto flute, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B flat, 2 bassoons. Brass: 4 horns in F, 4 trumpets in B flat, 2 trombones, 1 bass trombone (doubled with tuba is suggested). Percussion: timpani, snare drum, bass drum, tubular bells, gong, cymbals, tambourine, castanets, triangle, celesta. Voice: soprano soloist. String: violins I & II, violas, celli and double basses.