Frisina Music at Winter Olympics

February 9, 2018

On the opening day of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeong Chang, Marco Frisina's Magnificat as sung by Mina, was the music Italian ice skaters Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise used in their Pairs Short Program Team event competition. The pair ranked 7th after the competition.

“Magnificat Anima Mea” (My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord) was included in the 2001 collection of songs for the CD entitled Joy to the World. The piece was one of two originally composed for Mina Mazzini, known as Mina, one of the most successful Italian singers of all time with a vocal range of three octaves. The 2000 album Dalla Terra is the only one in Mina's discography that consists entirely of non-secular music, including this song as well as Marco Frisina’s “Nada Te Turbe” (Nothing Must Disturb You) with lyrics based on a text by Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582).

The “Magnificat” is also known as the “Canticle of Mary.” It is one of the eight most ancient Catholic chants and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn that forms a part of the Daily Office in the Roman Catholic Vespers service. Its name is the opening word of the Vulgate text (Lk 1:46:55): “Magnificat anima mea, Dominum” (My soul doth magnify the Lord).

Below is Mina singing Marco Frisina's Magnificat.