(29) Characteristics of Japanese music, music instruction, characteristics of Japanese people

Miyazaki July 25, 1926
To Amelio Franco, seminarian

Dear Franco,

How can I thank you for your kindness in remembering me? I will thank you by remembering you and your family every day (which I do). My Franco, God has given me an overly kind heart. I feel it myself. Once I enter someone's soul, I cannot get out, body and mind. The same goes for you and your holy family. I will thank the Lord every day!

‡@	Thank you for sending me the music staves. I plan to fill up most of them for you. Right now, I'm working on Japanese music. I have saved up quite a few, but you wouldn't understand them, so sending them to you wouldn't be of any use. The next time my Valsalice friends write to me again, I'll send them some beautiful Japanese songs. I've attached them to the letter I sent to the community, so please take a look. Japanese people like lonely songs in minor keys. Music is required at school, and in addition to some original songs, there are several songbooks with Japanese lyrics set to German and French melodies. He says he likes Italian music. He learns it quickly. For the Feast of the Assumption, I plan to hold a sung Mass with all the faithful. [Translator's note: Here is the first melody of the Gregorian chant Mass, "cum jubilo"] and also have Japanese hymns sung. Japanese people are fascinated by music and sing while working. Even babysitters hum beautiful songs while soothing their children. Just yesterday, in front of the church pond, a young woman was repeating the same aria over and over, trying to put her precious child to rest. [Translator's note: The melody staves continue.]
‡A	Thank you for your Saturday prayers for our mission field. The characteristics of this land would be hard to imagine. Combine these: non-Christian teachings with economic, social, and political prosperity; The free behavior of children (children are kings at home, showing everything they try to hide in Italy); Modest and beautiful clothing, combined with total freedom of dress (sometimes it feels like being in Mato Grosso). The high level of education among the people, combined with their total ignorance. I could write everything I could think of until tomorrow. This people is paradoxical, maybe strange, but at the same time precise, detailed, and... well, let's see what happens. Please pray, really.
‡B	As for music, in my experience, given the current situation at your school, unless better personnel arrive, it's best to do what you're doing. Do a few pieces well. (I've experienced the same thing with the children here.) Do a good program well. As for my compositions, don't worry; feel free to use whatever you like. (...)

Your compositions are wonderful, but don't be arrogant. Compare them with classical and modern music and you'll understand. You're free to use "Henri" as your stage name.[Translator's note: "Henri" refers to Father Cimatti's middle name, Enrico. He often used it as a stage name in his early days.] I would be honored by that.

Think about the musical tastes of the average person: many people care more about the name of the composer than the content. When they hear music, the first thing they ask is, "Who wrote it?" And when a famous person's name comes up... they say, "Wow, that's great!" (...)

You should never think that you are incompetent or lazy. If you have done what you know and what you can do, then you have nothing to fear. The same goes for your state of mind.

As for reading, I recommend the letters of St. Francis Salesio. (...) Reading them will show you the futility of the pessimistic thinking you wrote to me about. What are you talking about? Sinners, arrogant, emotional, worthless Salesians! Do you think God doesn't know that? Isn't that why we left this world? Those of little faith in God, take heart. You have too much faith in yourself. Leave it to God. There's no need to figure it out or philosophize about it. Just do what you know, in the moment, in the way you can, to love God. Everything else is just temptation, disbelief, and futile calculation. Be cheerful and move forward, forward, forward.

Anyway, Franco, be brave! Work and strive to become a saint. That is why Don Bosco kept you by his side.[Translator's note: This refers to the fact that Don Bosco's tomb, or body, was located in Valsalice at the time.] Do you understand? Don Bosco said to you, "I have kept you by my side, Franco, because if you had gone to another convent, you would have faced greater danger. In Valsalice, you can strive for holiness through work, cheerfulness, and a pious life that pleases my children."

Got it, you idiot? (Please don't be angry!) Are you still afraid? Now, when you come back from your summer camp in Piova (Translator's note: Father Cimatti also often went there during summer vacations) Go to Don Bosco and kiss him and thank him for me.

Heartfelt greetings to your mom, dad, and your brother who was in Valsalice. To the pianist and choir. And to you, a big hug and my deepest blessings.

Father Vincenzo Cimatti