Barcelona, 2011
In July 2011, Lincoln College Chapel Choir went on a week-long tour to Barcelona. After a very early start, we were met in Barcelona train station by our tour guide, Javi, a fellow-Lincolnite. Once we had settled into our hotel in the trendy district of Gracia, we had a little time for relaxation before our first concert in St George’s Anglican Church. A full church enjoyed repertoire by composers as historically and geographically diverse as Thomas Morley, Gerald Finzi, William Byrd, Francisco Guerrero and Sergei Rachmaninov. We also performed a selection of Catalan songs, which the audience greatly appreciated; it seems, however, that our musical ability surpassed our linguistic skill, as a number of audience members offered us tuition in Catalan pronunciation!
Our next concert took place in the monastery church of Montserrat, famous for its statue of the black Madonna. The monastery is accessible only by funicular railway or cable-car and the ascent provided some spectacular views of the surrounding landscape (although more than one choir member had their eyes closed in fear of the drop beneath). Having provided a choral offering to the Blessed Virgin Mary in front of some 300 tourists and pilgrims we were able to enjoy the glorious scenery surrounding the breathtaking monastery. After lunch we enjoyed a stroll up the mountain, serenading our fellow walkers with madrigals and drinking in the breathtaking views.
The singing highlight of the tour was the mass in Barcelona, for which the choir provided the sung liturgy – Palestrina’s Missa Aeterna Christi Munera. It was a fantastic experience to sing in such a beautiful building, and to enhance the worship the of the local congregation. The congregation was very appreciative, and we received many comments of thanks and congratulation. Our final performance of the tour was a mass at the Paroquia de Nuestra Senora de Nuria, a church on the Avenue Diagonal. Again, this was very well received and brought our set of performances to an excellent close.
As well as sing to a very high standard, we also enjoyed the many delights of Barcelona. We were particularly lucky in our tour guide, Javi, who was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the city. A fascinating tour around the gothic quarter of the city provided some respite from some strenuous singing, including a visit to the famous Santa Maria del Mar, a monument to Christian numerological symbolism. The architectural highlight was Gaudi’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, with its breathtaking size and grandeur, dripping stonework and modernist sculpture, and a walking tour of the modernist quarter, where “bendy buildings” suddenly appear among the more conventional. The penultimate day of the tour was spent at Barcelona’s nearby seaside resort, Sitges, where we spent a day relaxing in the sun, playing on the beach, and (perhaps predictably) singing madrigals to unsuspecting holiday makers in the sea. And of course, it wouldn’t be a choir tour without a thorough sampling of the local cuisine: much tapas, paella and sangria was savoured by everyone. All in all, a very successful tour, combining a very high standard of singing with a memorable cultural experience.
Our next concert took place in the monastery church of Montserrat, famous for its statue of the black Madonna. The monastery is accessible only by funicular railway or cable-car and the ascent provided some spectacular views of the surrounding landscape (although more than one choir member had their eyes closed in fear of the drop beneath). Having provided a choral offering to the Blessed Virgin Mary in front of some 300 tourists and pilgrims we were able to enjoy the glorious scenery surrounding the breathtaking monastery. After lunch we enjoyed a stroll up the mountain, serenading our fellow walkers with madrigals and drinking in the breathtaking views.
The singing highlight of the tour was the mass in Barcelona, for which the choir provided the sung liturgy – Palestrina’s Missa Aeterna Christi Munera. It was a fantastic experience to sing in such a beautiful building, and to enhance the worship the of the local congregation. The congregation was very appreciative, and we received many comments of thanks and congratulation. Our final performance of the tour was a mass at the Paroquia de Nuestra Senora de Nuria, a church on the Avenue Diagonal. Again, this was very well received and brought our set of performances to an excellent close.
As well as sing to a very high standard, we also enjoyed the many delights of Barcelona. We were particularly lucky in our tour guide, Javi, who was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the city. A fascinating tour around the gothic quarter of the city provided some respite from some strenuous singing, including a visit to the famous Santa Maria del Mar, a monument to Christian numerological symbolism. The architectural highlight was Gaudi’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, with its breathtaking size and grandeur, dripping stonework and modernist sculpture, and a walking tour of the modernist quarter, where “bendy buildings” suddenly appear among the more conventional. The penultimate day of the tour was spent at Barcelona’s nearby seaside resort, Sitges, where we spent a day relaxing in the sun, playing on the beach, and (perhaps predictably) singing madrigals to unsuspecting holiday makers in the sea. And of course, it wouldn’t be a choir tour without a thorough sampling of the local cuisine: much tapas, paella and sangria was savoured by everyone. All in all, a very successful tour, combining a very high standard of singing with a memorable cultural experience.
Joseph Mason, Organ Scholar (2010 - 2013)