Still today, in Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica, the three main islands of the western Mediterranean, there is a great flourishing of orally transmitted devotional songs which can be traced back to the acculturation processes brought about by Jesuit missionaries in the early modern era. Adopting an ethnomusicological approach, our essay focuses on some significant case studies, aiming to contribute to the discussion about Jesuits and music both in a contemporary and in a historical perspective. On the one hand, we observe the special consideration given today to some widespread popular religious songs that are commonly regarded as “historical Jesuit heritage.” On the other hand, we investigate historical sources, looking for traces of past music practices and hints about the relationships between Jesuit missionaries and traditional musicians. Rather than provide definitive answers, our purpose is to raise questions about the inherent complexity of the interpretation of past musical practices, and about the thought-provoking interconnections between these practices and the variegated music scenarios of the present day.

中文翻译：

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“Bella festa si fa ncelu”：地中海中心的耶稣会士和音乐传统*

时至今日，在西地中海的三个主要岛屿西西里岛、撒丁岛和科西嘉岛，口头传播的灵修歌曲非常繁荣，可以追溯到近代早期耶稣会传教士带来的文化适应过程。我们的文章采用民族音乐学的方法，侧重于一些重要的案例研究，旨在从当代和历史的角度为关于耶稣会士和音乐的讨论做出贡献。一方面，我们观察到今天对一些普遍被视为“历史耶稣会遗产”的流行宗教歌曲的特殊考虑。另一方面，我们调查历史资料，寻找过去音乐实践的痕迹以及耶稣会传教士与传统音乐家之间关系的线索。