Singing in Spain: Montserrat

In the morning after breakfast we drove to Montserrat (Jagged Mountain) where the Benedictine Abbey is housed. We were told to wear our pastel polo shirts as we would be singing in the church before we listened to the famous Montserrat Boy's Choir one of Europe's oldest music schools. We were all excited because we had heard so much about this abbey and it would be our last chance to sing in a church.

The monastery was founded in 1025 on a narrow platform in Valle Malo valley. Its existence came about as a result of finding a sculpture of the Virgin Mary in a cave near by. According to legend, the statue was carved by St. Luke and was brought to Barcelona by St. Peter. When the Moors invaded it was take to Montserrat for safe keeping and hid in a cave. In 880 Gondemar, the bishop of Vich was let to the cave by shepherds who were attracted by the sounds and sweet smells coming from the cave. When statue was found, she was to be taken to Manresa but at some point the statue would not move from the mountain. So a chapel was built for her. Through the years a nunnery was built and then a second Benedictine Abbey was built. Misfortune occurred the following years with a fire that burned part of the Abbey and Napoleon's army taking treasures accumulated through the middle ages.
Political insurrections limited the number of monks in the abbey which by the time of 1835 were now conducting a music school. Finally Pope Benedict XIII provided a grant which put the Abbey under the bishop of Barcelona.

We began the trip riding parallel along the beach. There was plenty of traffic but most was going into the city. If we looked beyond the cars we could see the Mediterranean Sea.


The sea is beyond the cars!

Then the bus pulled off the main road and we started to climb. The road was narrow but our bus driver was the best and he kept a steady speed as we continued to climb up 2, 920 ft high to the Abbey. It was not easy going around hair pin turns.

We continued climbing even passing by bike riders practicing for the Tour de Spain bike race.

It is hard to take pictures of riders whizzing by...

We continued driving and saw how the mountain was sliced in order to make the road. We could see that the mountain was pink conglomerate sedimentary rock. At times when we looked up we could see some of the serrated points that for which this mountain is known.

Soon we came upon a village half way up the rise. This was the village of Monistrol where many of the workers from Montserrat live and commute to work.

There are parts that are still building.

We continued up the road which was becoming even steeper.

Soon we saw another sign with a #9 to let you know you have nine kilometers to go!


We had nine miles to go!

Eventually, we got over the crest, and we found the parking lot for the buses. There we were able to go to the edge of the crest and take pictures where we had come.

Kevin focuses his camera.

On a clear day you can see the Island of Majorca and the Pyrenees on the other side.

The Bergins pose with the city below.

We then followed Ed to the reception area where we were to meet our guide.
We were greeted by the Abbey statues: a monk and a nun

We fell in line waking to the main Abbey.

The entrance war right across the street from the train station that delivered people by train and cable car. The train called a cremallera connects from the main train from Barcelona at Monistrol. It then takes about 18 minutes to come to Montserrat. The cable cars can also be taken and take about the same amount of time.

We continued walking toward the Abbey which was across from the train station.

We all gathered around Ed who gave us some directions in case we wanted brochures. He needed to go and search out our guide.

It looked like we would have to climb the stairs that were full of kids on vacation. Navigating through them would be a challenge!

When we got there we had to climb steps to get to the plaza. There were many tour groups there already and lots of kids on field trips.

We met our cute guide Yolanda who was going to take us to see a copy of the black Virgin . We walked into a small alcove and got to see the Virgin that was carved out of a dark wood. The real one sits in the sacristy of the Santa Maria Basilica. People can wait in a long line and to up to her and touch her and say a prayer.

Yolanda then took us into the Escolandia, the boys music school.

The Boy's Choir at Montserrat is the oldest boy's choir in Europe established in the 14th century.
The school is called Escolandia. Boys as young as seven audition to be included on the basis of voice and musical theory, academic performance, and adaptability and socialization. The education they receive is human and intellectual curriculum as well as music training. Each student also can learn one or two instruments. Many choose a string instrument and a woodwind or horn. They have vocalization each day and perform in the church.

The boys can board or commute from the near by town, Monistrol. We were able to walk through the dorm as the boys were out playing soccer and we would not be disturbing them. It was cute to see some of them still had their teddy bears on their beds. One even had a large Sponge Bob sitting on his pillow. As we walked down the hall we got to see their art work on the walls. Yolanda then took us to the practice hall which looked like a sunken kiva. Everything was up to date with high end electronics and modern furniture. We were very impressed at how clean everything was.

We ended our tour in basilica of Santa Maria at Montserrat. It was beautiful church and we looked to see where the real virgin was placed high above the back wall.

Rows of people were in a line waiting their turn to see the Virgin

If Jean turned, she would see the virgin all lit up .

We were just in time as Tim was getting everyone ready to sing in front of a full house of pilgrims and tourists.


"Jubilato Deo"

We were thrilled with the wonderful round of applause that we received from the audience.
We then sat down in front to wait until the boys walked in for their performance.

The boys sing in soprano and alto voices

Paula gets a ring side seat!

It was such a wonderful experience watching them sing in their angelic voices. They were so disciplines as they filed out in perfect order.

We got up gathered out things and followed the crowed out the hall with beautiful chandeliers.

We were all a bit hungry so after going through the gift shop we found our way to the cafeteria that was in full swing with all the people eating. The service was fantastic and soon we all got what we wanted and sat down to eat. It had been a great day so far and after we were fed we felt even better.
We went outside to look and the view and take more pictures.