—Jose Manuel, describe for us in general terms the project “Descalced”
The musical project “Descalced” is meant to be a joyful remembrance and a heart-felt tribute to those who, being attentive to the voice of the Spirit, have travelled for more than four centuries a passionate and committed path of love for God and of following Jesus Christ in the style of Saint Augustine: The Augustinian Recollects.
—Why the name “Descalced”?
This is how the document that the Order of the Augustinian Recollects considers as its “birth certificate” is called: The Way of Life of the Augustinian Recollects. That text written by the Augustinian, Fray Luis de León, was approved in September of the year 1589, becoming the first guide and the founding document for the followers of a reform which, within the Augustinian Order, was approved in September 5, 1588, in the City of Toledo, Spain.
—What can we find in “Descalced”?
The project is focused on putting into music the different realities that have been shaping our charismatic identity throughout our history; so we will find a series of songs that “will cover”, for example, from the Rule of St. Augustine, up to our contribution and presence in the evagenlization of the Americas and the Philippines, passing through the Great Union of 1256 that gave origin to the Order of St. Augustine, the Chapter of Toledo of the year 1588 during which the Augustinian Recollection was born, the document itself of Way of Life, as well as very important personalities like Fray Luis de León, St. Magdalene of Nagasaki, Mother Mariana de San José, St. Ezekiel Moreno and others.
—What can this project contribute to the Year of Consecrated Life?
The Augustinian Recollection or Descalced was born at a time when there was an atmosphere of exceptional spiritual density and desires for renewal. The Year of Consecrated Life convoked by Pope Francis is meant to give new impulse to this way of following Christ. The Order of the Augustinian Recollects is immersed in its own process of revitalization and restructuration. It is not difficult to see the connection that can be established between the two realities. For this reason, I would like that, through the humble mediation of music, the project “Descalced” would contribute its grain of sand to the dynamics of revitalization of the religious life in general and that of the Augustinian Recollects in particular. The dozen of themes which would approximately make up the project, will try to express something of the beauty that consecrated life possesses and the joy that it produces and, the Augustinian Recollect charism is included in it.
—Can it be said that it will be a project that is meant for a more “familiar” public?
That’s right. The desire “to sing our charism” presupposes that you have in mind those who already follow the Augustinian Recollect way of life, or are preparing for it. My desire would be that “Descalced” would reach as many hearers as possible within the extensive Augustinian and Recollect family: female and male religious, the young who are in our house of formation, contemplative nuns, missionary sisters, secular fraternities, Recollect Augustinian Youth (RAY)… I believe that it is in this atmosphere that “the spirit” that beats in this compositions can best be appreciated, and where it can be more alive, as a way of help for a greater knowledge of our charism, and awaken the interest to deepen in what is being sung, as an instrument for personal and/or communitarian prayer, for all types of encounters that unite us as family, community and Order.
—How will you make it reach?
Unlike other previous musical projects, I have thought that this time I will not publish a compact disc in an editorial, with the obligation of acquiring a determined number of copies for sale, limiting oneself to very concrete hours in the recording studio that do not make the product expensive, etc., etc., etc. Now I will prepare the songs with more calm, with the help of the great arranger, Andrés Tejero, and later I will offer them for their free audition and unloading in all kinds of supports related with Internet: the website of the Order, that of St. Nicholas of Tolentino – which supports and promotes the project-, my own, Facebook, etc. In this way, whoever may be interested can have the songs available with greater flexibility of management, format and mobility.
—You have mentioned previous discs: how would you evaluate your years as a composer and singer?
I can only make an enormously grateful evaluation. I have just finished a compilation of themes that I have called “Canciones al aire”, and I present as a confession of love and gratitude to God to the Order of the Augustinian Recollects for the fifteen years of music. It was in the course of a few months, halfway between the years 1999 and 2000, when texts and melodies that had been conceptualized with the passage of time and lived in the warmth of personal and family intimacy, were gradually leaving the sedentary home in order to launch themselves into the air and expose themselves – with illusion and fear- to the public hearing. In this way, twenty two of my songs contained in two discs were presented in society Camino de Santiago and Vendremos a él, the first was the fruit of an experience of pilgrimage to the tomb of the Apostle in Compostela, Galicia, Spain, and the second on the occasion of the Trinity and the Eucharist, together with the Jubilee that opened the third millennium of Christianity. The same number of songs went on air some years later through the recordings entitled Confieso tu amor (2006) and Agustín íntimo (2012), both with the figure and writings of the holy Bishop of Hippo as central idea.
I reiterate that they have been years of beautiful musical experiences – compositions, discs, recitals and concerts – that make me feel filled with gratitude and propel me to go on, as St. Augustine would say, singing and walking.
—During a long period of time you have been performing works of a formator in the Order. Is there any connection between formation and music?
Music has been present in my life since the first moment I had relationship with the Augustinian Recollects, being still a child. And I still continue in the course of time the different ministries through which I have passed. The idea of composing and singing “what is ours” started to materialize in my years as a formand; now as a formator, I continue to offer with the same illusion or more, if that is possible. I enjoy doing it, I enjoy bringing our charism to the language of music and song; I believe that some of my songs are becoming part of the life and charismatic identity of our formands; to them I owe the incentive that my speaking to them in music about the charism and about the Augustinian Family entail.
—Are there more projects on the way?
At present I will focus myself on “Descalced” and on the challenge that offering new theme every month until February 2016, the closing of the Year of Consecrated Life, involves. For the moment my intention is being achieved, because last December the project started to move with the song “Ante Omnia”, in January “Santa union” was published; February is for the theme “Contemplative Life”, a song of tribute to Fray Luis de León; but there are still many works ahead to be done with the rest of the themes.
During my free time I am also writing the score of some of the themes that I have been composing without it. Besides I would like to put into music some texts of the Augustinian Liturgy of the Hours, as I already did with the Vespers of the Day of All the Saints of the Order.
—Would you like to add something more?
I would like to end by thanking the invitation that has been extended to me to respond to these questions. And, as far as the musical project “Descalced” is concerned, I would only add that, even if it brings us back to our past history with the spirit of admiration and thanksgiving, it likewise seeks to help us to live with greater intensity our present life and will propel us towards the future. O would that this simple musical contribution be another incentive to know, celebrate, renew and live the Augustinian Recollect charism in communion with other male and female consecrated persons, from the joy of the Gospel.
Thank you very much.