The Mission: Father Culleys Guarani

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Robert Bolt's film, The Mission,  opens with Guarani tribesmen tying a Jesuit missionary to a cross

and throwing him into the water above the falls on the Iguazu River.   His brother Jesuits recover the body below the falls and consider who will go next.  Though others volunteer, their leader Father Gabriel (Jeremy Irons) says it's his duty.   He makes his way above the falls and is captured by the

tribesmen who martyred his Jesuit brother,  but before he too is cast into the river he captivates them with music played on a simple flute.   The story of the Jesuits and the musical accomplishments of the Guarani is great stuff.   If you've made it this far you can look it up for yourself on the Internet.

Thomas Culley, SJ, may have been chagrined when the Society of Jesuit ordered him to leave Brown University and ascend the Blackstone River to teach music at Holy Cross.  If he was, he didn't show it.  Jesuits have been ordered to worse fates.   Of the many things Father Brooks did for his Guarani at Holy Cross,  giving them "Music in the Baroque Period" is the least appreciated.   Gentlemen I encourage to listen to the Brandenburg Concertos in the lab this week.   Identify the contrapuntal interactions... or if you like just listen and try to enjoy the music.   I tried hard to enjoy the music, and did to a point, but Bach wasn't the best for napping.

One day father announced that he was moving across campus.   Back then there was a Jesuit  assigned to each dormitory floor, though you rarely saw them.   I need help moving my harpsichord.  It's not every day the Guarani get to move a harpsichord.   He had plenty of help.  No Bachs, maybe, but plenty of strong backs.