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On the initiative of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) and with the production of Juan Delgado, the Latin American version of the Hymn for the 2025 Jubilee was presented, which contains voices and rhythms of different countries and regions of the continent.
Al present the pieceFr. Pedro Brassesco, Argentine priest who serves as deputy general secretary of CELAM, said: “This initiative to make a Latin American version of the Hymn of the Jubilee arises from the purpose of CELAM to approach the communities, the territories, offering a Material that allows to be closer from the culture itself, from the identities themselves, and music. ”
“While the Latin American and Caribbean territory is extensive, it is broad, and has a particularity in each of the regions, it seemed that we could, through this version, make an identification with each one,” he explained.
What they sought was to produce a Spanish version faithful to the original, but that could reflect the Latin American culture and that it was attractive to the people of the continent ..
In dialogue with ACI Press, Juan Delgado recalled the origin of the initiative, which was born from Fr. Brasesco: “We were together last year giving a course for Catholic musicians and then the official version of the Hymn of the Jubilee came out, an official version in Spanish, which was a translation made by the Spanish Epicopal Conference. ”
“When we listened to the song, we saw that it was a beautiful translation, but we noticed that the musical accompaniment was very European, with corals, organ and all that,” he said.
It was then that the priest asked the musical producer if it would be possible to make a Latin American version, to use the official lyrics, but incorporate representative elements of the culture. Delgado accepted the challenge and began looking for ways to make that version.
The Latin American touch
After recording a demo in ballad version, “the ideas began to emerge and we began to accelerate it a bit,” said Delgado. After several tests, “we finally found that accelerating the rhythm, there was the opportunity to accompany it with the rhythmic of the Brazil’s batucada, mixed a little with reggaeton,” and incorporating popular instruments and styles in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean .
The most recognized voices on the continent
What gave him even more flavor “was the participation of more than 20 Catholic musicians from all over Latin America,” said the producer. “We gave main lines to faces and voices that were the most recognized in the continent, representing most of the areas.”
Among the artists convened were Martín Valverde, Fr. Cristóbal Fones, Kairy Márquez, Verónica Sanfilippo, Paulina Rojas, Azeneth González, Celines, Fruit of the Madero, Pablo Martínez, Ana Bolívar, Itela and Juanjo, and several more.
The elaboration of this anthem, he said, allowed them to “create community”, and although it was a challenge to work with so many people at the same time and in so many countries, “with a lot of patience and methodology it was achieved.” The result? “A hymn that is like a lot and that is ours.”
Music, sign of hope to light hearts
Tomás Romero, leader of the Colombian community as a result of the Madero, recognized ACI Press to have been summoned to participate in the anthem “was very special.”
“It makes us feel part of the Church, on behalf of that Latin American faith that is very alive thanks to the Virgin.”
The musician also highlighted that the possibility of “sharing with singers who carry much more travel than us, for us is an honor” and an opportunity to “learn from them.”
Romero thinks that in this jubilee year, as musicians can contribute “precisely to generate hope”, because “sometimes people cannot read the gospel, cost them, they do not understand. There are people who do not know how to read and through music that comes to many people, ”he said.
Finally, he recalled that “in this world there is much more hope than the news shows us,” so he advised: “Music to ignite hearts and to look for plenary indulgences.”
Unite to praise God
From Guatemala, where Catholic concerts are giving, the Peruvian-Paraguayan marriage of itala and Juanjo, assured Aci Press: “For us it is an honor, it makes us happy to be a church, walk in Sinodality, unite our mission partners to praise To God this year that marks the history of our Church. ”
Music, considers the duo, “is and always will be a language, the way of expressing what we cannot say with words.”
“In this year we express a deep gratitude, a sense of belonging to our beloved Church, a again unite, find, meet again and reconcile with God, and in that sense, music helps us connect and express all this,” they added.
Julieta Villar
I am a journalist, a graduate in Communication from the National University of La Matanza in Argentina. I have work experience in non -governmental organizations. Since 2016 I dedicate myself to Catholic journalism, first in the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA) and, since 2022, as a correspondent for ACI Press for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.