José Henrique
Valêncio:
“It is very
rewarding to
hear everyone
singing along”
Our fellow
Spiritist from
São Paulo state
and member of
the
Bênção de
Paz (Peace
Blessing) band
talks about his
work in the Spiritist
Movement
 |
José Henrique
Valêncio
(photo), a
lawyer based in
the city of São
Paulo, has been
a Spiritist
since 1977. He
works as a
volunteer at the
Bênção de Paz
Spiritist Centre
and is a member
of the eponymous
band. In this
interview, he
talks about his
work in the
Spiritist
Movement,
especially the
activities of
the band.
|
|
When and how was
the Bênção de
Paz band
founded? |
The band was
formed in 1994,
when the
Spiritist Centre
was founded. We
began with only
three people,
two of my
nephews and me.
The band is part
of our Spiritist
Centre and the
members are all
Spiritists and
volunteers at
the Spiritist
Centre Benção de
Paz. Some of
them, like me,
have been with
the group from
the beginning.
Others joined
much later, up
to three years
ago.
Tell us about
the songs. What
is the process
of writing and
selecting them?
Our idea has
always been to
produce songs
that will make
happy and will
encourage the
best vibrations
to come out of
them. Our
repertoire is
made up of songs
that talk about
the Gospel of
Jesus in a
cheerful and at
the same time
touching manner.
We sing
Catholic,
Evangelical and
Spiritist songs,
as well
traditional
Brazilian songs,
which are so
rich in poetry
and beauty and
full of joy.
Band members and
those who attend
the activities
of our Spiritist
Centre suggest
the titles of
songs for us to
record. We also
have our own
original songs.
All in all, we
have already
released four
CDs recorded
live and a DVD
in 2012.
In which way do
you think your
performances
have helped your
public?
In the beginning
we were like a
“Harmonisation
Group,” as we
say in Spiritism.
Our music, its
joyful rhythm
and its positive
messages helped
people find
balance,
harmony, getting
them better
prepared in
spiritual terms
for the public
talk and healing
that come
afterwards.
How do you, the
band, feel the
impact of your
work?
Despite our
limitations, we
feel a clear
change in the
atmosphere and
in the energy of
the public
during our
performances.
You get the same
effect with any
other art form.
It is so nice to
see the mood and
faces of those
who work as
volunteers and
those who attend
the Benção de
Paz Spiritist
Centre change
during each one
of our
performances. We
see the
difference,
before and after
the show. And,
of course, it is
very rewarding
to hear everyone
singing along.
The Benção de
Paz is a musical
Spiritist
Centre!
How can people
contact you to
book gigs?
One of our
friends,
Giselle, looks
after our
agenda. Her
email is
giselle.margonar@gmail.com.
We do not have
our own website.
We used the
Spiritist
Centre’s
website:
www.bencaodepaz.com.br/centro.
Is there any
particular event
in the band’s
history that you
would like to
share with us?
There are so
many stories and
events, but
there was a
particularly
unforgettable
moment. We
travelled once
to Uberaba and
went to see the
great medium,
Chico Xavier, in
his house. He
had been unwell.
We began to sing
in front of his
house. He
eventually
invited us,
through his
adoptive son,
Eurípedes, to
get in. He saw
us in his room,
one by one, and
thanked us for
singing for him.
Chico loved
music. We had
sang for him
many times at
meetings of his
Spiritist Group,
Grupo da Prece.
And we performed
for him at home
many other
times.
