The Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – for brass quintet
Composer: Henrique Coe
Photo: world premiere on November 28, 2017 at Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa (Portugal)
Edited audio and video: recording on December 12, 2017 at Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa (Portugal)
Performers: Aes Exilium brass quintet [Vasco Moreira (trumpet), José Terra (trumpet), Luis Diz (French horn), João Gomes (trombone), Miguel Canada (tuba)]. Conductor in the recording: Hugo Assunção.
Program note:
In 2017 we commemorated the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal. This piece, named “The Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”, is based on the secret of Fatima, a very impressive prophetic message. On May 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared for the first time to Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta in Fatima, Portugal. Our Lady has also made five other appearances in 1917 and one in 1921.
Protected by Our Lady, the children had a frightening vision of hell. In order to save souls from hell, the Virgin showed a way: “To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart”.
Our Lady foresaw the Second World War, persecutions to the Church and to the Pope, and that Russia would spread her errors throughout the world. In order to prevent this, she asked for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart and the Communion of reparation on the First Saturdays Devotion [1].
Notwithstanding all the terrible events foreseen, Our Lady left a message of hope: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”
Expressing all of this in a piece of music seems to be impossible for me; however, I tried to express the general idea as best I could. With a duration of approximately 10 minutes, the piece starts with a statement of the main theme by the horn, like an announcement of the message. Then gradually the piece gains great tension. Turmoil and serene moments alternate, within a tension ambiance, until a climax near the end. Then, a great contrast takes place leading to a triumphant finale, showing the victory of the Immaculate Heart in the end.
“You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end: but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the Pontificate of Pius XI. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that he is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and of the Holy Father. To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she shall be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world”.
(Part of the message of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the three children in Fatima)
[1] The First Saturdays Devotion is a devotion in which the Catholic faithful go to confession, receive Communion, pray the rosary and do a 15-minute meditation on the mysteries of the rosary on the first Saturday of the month, for five months in a row. All of this with the intention of reparation for the blasphemies and offenses against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.