The Music Chapel of Santa Maria del Mar
At present, the Music Chapel of Santa Maria del Mar defines itself as a young chamber choir with a professional vocation, devoted primarily to sacred choral music. The Chapel participates in the liturgy of the Basilica during major celebrations—such as the Easter Vigil and the Midnight Mass of Christmas—performs the Cant de la Sibil·la, and gives occasional concerts both at Santa Maria del Mar and elsewhere.
Documentary evidence confirms the existence of a Music Chapel at the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar as early as 1532, at that time under the direction of Pere Cubells. With periods of greater and lesser activity, moments of crisis and of splendour, it may be assumed that the Chapel existed almost uninterruptedly until 19 July 1936.
The list of Maestros de Capilla of Santa Maria del Mar includes such names as Joan Brudieu, Gabriel Manalt, Josep Gaz, and Francesc Valls, among others.
An extensive list may be consulted by clicking here.
The longest period of silence of the Music Chapel of Santa Maria del Mar likely extended from 1936 until 1986, when Enric Gispert re-founded the Chapel. This revival was accompanied by the restoration of the Cant de la Sibil·la in 1984, the first performance in modern times in Catalonia. Unfortunately, in 2003 the Chapel was once again dissolved.
On Christmas Eve 2022, the Music Chapel of Santa Maria del Mar sang once more to perform the Cant de la Sibil·la at Santa Maria del Mar, now under the direction of Joan Seguí.
