When in 601, Matteo Ricci, at the invitation of the Chinese Emperor Wan Li, reached the Forbidden City, he brought with him a good number of European gifts, among them a SPINET (pipe organ) – which caused a sensation at the Court. Definitely, music was one of the priorities of his mission to China.

Eight years later, Ricci even published an anthology entitle Eight Airs with Accompaniment on the European Organ, which again met with incredible success.

A century later, Fr. Verbiest wrote as follows: “In one of our churches (Beitang), we set up an organ, built in tin pipes, accordingly to the rules of music. All may visit it. The building of the organ, we owe to the skill and ingenuity of Fr. Tómas Pereira, a very able musician at Kangxi court.”

Fr. Perdini described the pipe organ in the words: “The organ has four registers, which is sufficient for any church in Beijing, but it is much more beautiful than those of Europe, because all Pipes are the front, are decorated with Gold Flowers: it is coated with black lacquer and it is portative.”

A note written by Fr. Pereira in 1693 enlightens us that: before any music performance could take place, Padres Pekinenses had in use to say St. Ignatius’ Dedicatory text as follows:

“Actiones nostras, quaesumus, Domine, aspirando preveni et adjuvando presequere; ut cuncta nostra oratio a te simper incipit, et per te copeta finiatur.”

“We beseech Thee, O Lord, gives us grace in our actions and accompany them with Thine aid that all our prayers and endeavors may begin and end with Thee.”