Christians and Muslims mourn Matthew Bose, Bangladesh’s’ genius of sacred hymns"
The composer and director died aged 77. He was the main figure of Bangladeshi sacred music and directed a choir of 1,000 people during the visit of St. John Paul II in 1986. He has written more than 50 hymns. Muslim engineer: "He was a great man, may God give him peace and rest."
Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Matthew Dipok Bose, Catholic composer, musician and director, considered "a genius of sacred hymns" has died aged 77. "He was a good person - says Msgr. Gervas Rozario, Bishop of Rajshahi - and he loved the Church, liturgical music and his work. He was a very zealous music director. The Catholic Church in Bangladesh will remember his contribution for a long time”.
Matthew Dipok Bose died Wednesday morning from an illness related to his old age. Hundreds of people attended the funeral. Bose was the main figure of the Bangladeshi sacred music, and his work was also appreciated by the Protestant church, who called him to lead the most important functions.
One of the high points of the Bose career was the visit to Bangladesh of St. John Paul II in 1986, when the musician directed a choir of 1,000 people. He also composed some 50 hymns of Geetaboli (Christian book of songs and hymns). "Matthew Dipok Bose was a genius of hymns - says Msgr. Rozario – he was often called upon to direct the liturgical celebrations and his services have always been great".
In collaboration with the Christian Communication Center, Bose produced numerous audio tapes with his own compositions, which are often sung by the Catholic community. "He was a truly gifted director – says Willial Autal Kulantunu, composer of hymns - and together we could play any instrument. It is a great loss for the Christian community and the Church”.
Fr. Pradeep Perez, SJ, also a musician, remembers him as "a man of class, culture and creativity. He taught me to read and write the notes of Bengali music. May God give him eternal peace”.
Even the Islamic community has expressed condolences for the disappearance of Bose: "He was a great man - says Tanvir Biswas, an engineer - and the Christian community will never forget him. May God Almighty give him rest and peace ".
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