Boys choir Escolania de Montserrat keeps tradition alive at Strathmore

March 17, 2014
Boys choir Escolania de Montserrat keeps tradition alive at Strathmore
By Charles T. Downey, Monday, March 17, 10:39 AM
Historically, boys choirs in Catholic churches were the training ground for many composers, from
Guillaume Dufay in the 15th century to Puccini and Bruckner in the 19th. Schubert was a choirboy in
Vienna in 1809, when he may have sung at the grand memorial service for Haydn, who had himself been
a choirboy at the city’s cathedral in the previous century. The tradition is still going strong at the
Escolania de Montserrat, a boys choir school in Spain that is making its first American tour, with a stop
on Sunday afternoon in the Music Center at Strathmore.
The boys, about 40 of them, normally sing for liturgical services in the Basilica of Montserrat, a
Benedictine monastery in Catalonia. The concert opened with a meditative section of sacred music,
including a Gregorian introit, “Germinans germinabit” and “Imperayritz de la ciutat ioyosa,” one of the
pieces from the “Llibre vermell,” a 14th century codex of music composed for the pilgrims at Montserrat.
A setting of the “Salve regina” chant by Joan Cererols, a former Montserrat choirboy who became monk
and choirmaster there, featured echos of each phrase by a quartet of soloists, stationed in the balcony
above the stage.
In all of their selections, the boys sang with near-faultless intonation and exceptional musical sensitivity,
a tribute to the formation given by their leader, Bernat Vivancos, another former Montserrat choirboy
whose “El cant dels ocells” was one of the highlights of the Catalan folk-song-centered second half. The
exceptional quality of their music-making extended to pieces of all historical periods, including a
Handelish “Angelus ad pastores ait” by Narcís Casanoves, another former Montserrat choirboy, and the
more Romantic motets by Àngel Rodamilans and Pablo Casals, both in honor of the Black Virgin of
Montserrat.
Downey is a freelance writer.
Correction:
An earlier version of this story said: “Washington does not have a boys choir.”
Washington does not have a boys choir school, but there are boys choirs affiliated with churches and schools,
including St Paul’s Parish, K Street, and the choir of Men and Boys at the Washington National Cathedral.
Escolania de Montserrat
performs at Strathmore in
boys choir’s first U.S. tour
Escolania de Montserrat - In its first U.S. tour, the Escolania de Montserrat performs Sunday at the Music Center at
Strathmore.
By Katherine Boyle, Published: March 14 E-mail the writer
Nestled at the top of the Montserrat mountain, 53 boys awake to daybreak at 7 a.m. Hours later,
they enter the basilica, a line of white robes against a gilded altar. These boys, ranging in age
from 9 to 14, perform with the Escolania de Montserrat, one of the oldest boys choirs in Europe
and music schools in Spain. And until their voices deepen with age, they sing twice each day for
3 million pilgrims who visit the Benedictine abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat just outside
Barcelona each year.
But this week, their meticulous routine is in flux because of the choir’s first U.S. tour in its 800year history. On Sunday, they’ll take the stage at Strathmore to sing a program of Marian
hymns, Gregorian chant and Catalan folk songs, many of which have never been
There’s a reason for the choir’s limited touring schedule and for its relative anonymity when
compared with the Vienna Boys Choir or the St. Thomas Boys Choir of Leipzig Germany, which
spend months of the year trotting around the globe: The Escolania is not a concert choir and
rarely performs outside of the basilica.
“For us, it is most important to sing in the church; there are not a lot of choirs that sing two
times in the church each day,” said Bernat Vivancos, director of the choir and an alumnus of the
Escolania de Montserrat. “The tour is a very special occasion for us. It is important that the
music and the long tradition of the Escolania is known.”
It is why Neeta Helms, founder of Classical Movements, the group presenting the choir in
Washington and New York, considers this tour to be a rare look at the Escolania’s long tradition
and exceptional talent.
“I have a special place in my heart for boys choirs and this choir,” Helms said. “And in this day
and age that is faster paced, there are so many things pulling people away. It’s remarkable to
hear this sound. It’s a brief moment in the span of a person’s life when they have this beautiful
sound.”
The sound of the Escolania, however, is unique even among boys choirs. Vivancos calls it a
“gold” or “red wine” type of sound vs. the light and bright sound of many boys choirs. Although
all the boys are sopranos or altos, the blend of the Escolania is richer and darker,
complementing the abbey’s mystical setting and the choir’s uncommon repertoire.
The choir’s sound inspired many through the ages, from Spanish kings to Catholic martyrs killed
in the Spanish Civil War. Composers, too, were inspired by the choristers’ voices. On this tour,
the choir will sing “Nigra Sum,” by Pablo Casals, the great cellist and conductor. Marta Istomin
Casals, a former artistic director of the Kennedy Center, says her late husband wrote all his
sacred music for the choir.
“Many composers come out of Montserrat,” she said. “Casals used to spend two or three days
with them in Montserrat in the summers. He was very inspired by this atmosphere and their
pursuit of excellence and expression. He dedicated his religious works to them.”
One of the unique facets of boys choirs is their extended history and the amount of music
available for them to perform. Boys choirs predate the orchestra, the opera and other genres of
music that seem ancient to many audiences. Originating in monasteries of Europe when women
were not allowed to sing in churches, the choirs draw on centuries of music composed for the
male voice, with concerts programs beginning in the 14th century and ending with
contemporary compositions.
The choirs have needed to modernize in recent decades. While the Escolania de Montserrat is a
rigorous music school where some boys live, it recently relaxed its boarding requirement to
attract students who want to live with their families. And while the students at the Escolania
learn two instruments in addition to choral music, Vivancos stresses that they are normal boys
who play soccer and video games. While many will go on to perform with choirs or orchestras
later in life, others pursue careers outside of music.
Helms says that while boys choirs may seem like a reminder of eras past, their popularity is
stable if not rising, particularly in the United States. She praised the Pacific Boychoir Academy
in Oakland, Calif., which has won three Grammys since its creation in 1998. Although
Washington does not have a boys choir school, she says children’s choruses are immensely
popular among audiences and participants.
“I am truly one of the people who believes that youth orchestras and children’s choirs have a
huge pull in the modern day,” she said. “In America, children’s choruses have such high
standards, and they are becoming more common in China and Korea.”
Istomin Casals agrees that boys choirs and children’s choirs have maintained their international
status and popularity.
“I just came back from Puerto Rico, and they have the most wonderful children’s chorus,” she
said. “I believe we all realize that in order to really enjoy music, you have to be exposed in your
early childhood. The choirs are not only attractive to older audiences, but also to children. They
are an inspiration for children and older people.”
Escolania de Montserrat
presented by Classical Movements at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane,
North Bethesda, Md. Sunday at 3 p.m. $25-$35. Call
301-581-5100 or go to strathmore.org.