Divine Office in Florence

Picture it, Florence, 2024. It was my first time in Italy and I was soaking up the street life after the afternoon riposo. As I was walking past the Badia Fiorentina monastery (the church with the skinny hexagonal spire), I heard the echoes of a chant. And if there’s one thing about me, I’m going to break into a cloistered community to hear some more chant. Thankfully, they allowed visitors, so I entered the monastery and was greeted with the most beautiful midday prayer. This religious community was not interested in mindboggling counterpoint and extreme vocal agility. They knew this does not impress God any more than their simple block chords and subtle homophony. What’s more, in this stony monastery, those humble chords filled the space in a way that was more gratifying than anything else.

I had come to Europe on a rather long summer vacation (being a teacher has its perks). The itinerary took me from the top of Germany to the bottom of Italy. I took time to explore the art, architecture, sacred spaces, and especially the music of historic Europe. After several fabulous concerts in Berlin, Prague, and Vienna, my ears were conditioned for orchestral complexity. But the voice of God, I think, is often spoken in simplicity. When I finally made it to Italy, I was astounded by the sincerity and tenderness of their music. And in Florence–where the Medieval met the Renaissance–you could tell they took full ownership of their sublime tradition. To my bitter disappointment, I did not think to record their chant. Luckily, some folks on YouTube already have. Here is a link to one video that captures their beauty in simplicity.