Wednesday, September 23, 2026 – 7:30 pm
Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours
400, rue Saint-Paul Est
Montréal, H2Y 1H4

Bus Bus : 170, 30, 350, 355, 364, 365
Métro Metro : Champ-de-Mars

SUMMARY

At the summit of the Catalan mountains, in the shadow of the Montserrat Monastery, pilgrims of the Middle Ages advanced to the rhythm of faith and music. This program explores the Llibre Vermell de Montserrat, a 14th century manuscript that guided devotion through songs, prayers, and dances in Latin, Catalan, and Occitan, blending spiritual fervour with popular forms—virelais and circle dances. Performed by the ensemble COMTESSA on vielle, citole, organetto, tambourine and bells, this concert brings back to life a place of passage where travellers and pilgrims once gathered in musical communion.

PROGRAM

O virgo splendens

Stella splendens in monte

Laudemus virginem

Splendens ceptigera

CSM 311 : “Le pèlerin frappé par la foudre” [Instrumental]

Los sept goyts recomptarem

Cuncti simus concanentes

Polorum regina

CSM 52 : “Les bouquetins qui donnèrent leur lait aux moines de Montserrat” [Instrumental]

Mariam matrem

Inperayritz dela ciutat ioyosa

Ad mortem festinamus

DISTRIBUTION

Ensemble COMTESSA
Isabelle Douailly-Backman, vielle/ direction
Len Torrie, voice and citole
Maria Gajraj, organetto