I had the opportunity to speak with our bishop, Luis Rafael Zarama, on the subject of music. Over the next few weeks, I will share our conversation in this space, and conclude with a few of my own reflections - Jeff Rice 

S&S: What was your experience of music around your house or neighborhood growing up in Colombia?

Bishop Zarama: We listened to radio shows on a wave radio because we didn't have a good radio station in my hometown, and my mother liked to listen to classical music most of the day. And, I think that was mostly the music that I heard in my home. In my hometown, the music that I grew up with was for dancing, like cumbias and merengues, that were part of fiestas in my hometown in Colombia. I knew that my grandmother played the piano, but I never knew her. In my grandfather's house, we had the piano, but nobody played the piano. We would touch the keys as kids, but I never took classes.

S&S: What was music like at (your) church going to Mass growing up?

Bishop Zarama: When I was growing up, when I went to Mass there was not really music. It was just spoken. Once in a while, I heard a guy play the harmonium (a small version of an organ) in the summertime in another town that we visited. And, there would be one person playing the harmonium and singing a song. But in my hometown, I don't remember hearing choirs for Mass. S&S: Would people sing at other times, like in a procession, outside of Mass? Bishop Zarama: When they had the processions, especially for Holy Week, they didn't sing, what they did was pray the rosary. And I remember every year that the state band was playing at the end of the procession, like funeral music.

S&S: Do you think that it was typical in Colombia not to have music as much in church, and has that changed since you were a child?

Bishop Zarama: (On) the couple of occasions I have been back to Colombia I have seen that they are singing more during Mass. It has changed. And not just on Sunday, because sometimes when I visit, I just go to Mass and sit in the pew because it is a different experience than being the presider. But I can say at even daily Mass they usually have someone playing the guitar and singing songs and that makes a big difference.

S&S: Growing up did you learn to play an instrument or sing in a choir? Bishop Zarama: No. I thought about playing piano. I didn't because the piano was at my grandfather's house, not at my house. And we didn't have any music in school.

Next week Bishop Zarama shares his impression of music in the seminary and his impression of music and singing in church coming to the United States - JR