"I have some practice, since my study days at the Salesian Pontifical University, with some recording and editing tools, which I also use to make short meditations," Fr Owoudou told ANS. In this case, I provided the AI with some indications on the music and lyrics, but then I had to intervene personally in several aspects".
In fact, the song, currently produced in the Italian version only, takes up almost the entire text of the prayer, but at the same time provides for the introduction of a refrain and some other necessary changes to make it more musically catchy”.
"The first result did not satisfy me," Fr Owoudou continued, "It was a rather long song, with several repetitions and rock guitars that clashed with the meditative setting I had given for the melody. So I made some 'surgical' cuts, separating the lyrics into several stanzas, eliminating excessive choruses and leaving what I liked. In the end, I reached the 3-minute song which, once I let other people hear it too, I saw that they liked it”.
The result is a valuable tool for all the Sons of Don Bosco who are preparing to experience the important stage of GC29. "Now that the 93 Provincial Chapters have been completed, I receive a lot of feedback from the confreres who are adopting the preparatory prayer. Some pray better with images, others with words, still others with music... That is the reason for this option," concluded the CG29 Regulator.
Fr Owoudou also wished to thank Fr Francesco Marcoccio, Director of the Salesian Headquarters community, for having prepared the prayer for GC29; and with regard to the song "Padre Buono", he assured that in the coming days a Nigerian artist, Francis E., will complete the production of the musical base only, which can be used to make other language versions of the same song, or simply as accompaniment.
The song "Padre Buono" - prayer for CG29, is now finally accompanied by a video realized by the Agenzia iNfo Salesiana, which adds the evocative power of images to the music.
It is available for listening and viewing on the ANS YouTube channel.
