Spain and Portugal Travelogue Seven
Dear Friends,
In Barcelona in 1883, a young architect named Antoni Gaudi was named as the chief architect for the planning of a new church dedicated to Holy Family of Jesus. Gaudi was a deeply religious man who believed that God Himself was the Great Architect of all things and that any buildings or works of art that humans might attempt are mere continuations of His original work: “Creation carries on incessantly through man. Man does not create; he discovers and proceeds from this discovery. Those who look to the laws of nature to fashion new works are collaborating with the Creator.” Gaudi dedicated his life to the building of the magnificent La Sagrada Familia church. More than 130 years later, and still under construction, it is among the largest and most magnificent houses of worship anywhere in the world.
While passing through Barcelona a few days earlier, the Georgia Boy Choir toured the iconic building, but the security guards responsible for managing the thousands of daily visitors denied them the opportunity to sing at that time. On Sunday, the ensemble arrived again in order to perform during the Mass being held in the crypt of the massive church. This time, the Choir members were welcomed and ushered to their places just a few yards from Gaudi’s tomb. Situated in the subterranean level beneath the gargantuan sanctuary of the Basilica, the crypt itself is a beautiful room with enormous pillars all around. It seats hundreds of people and is surrounded by small chapels that line the outside walls. On this day, the room was filled to capacity.
Click here for more pictures from the trip!
The elderly priest who was celebrating the Mass was Monsignor Lluis Bonet i Armengol whose architect father was Gaudi’s pupil and assistant, and whose brother became the chief architect of the church realizing Gaudi’s dream long after his death. Father Bonet possesses a joie-de- vivre and energy that belie his age. He was genuinely glad to welcome the young Americans to his service and to include them in it. His joy was particularly evident as they sang the Alleluia before and after the reading of the gospel. Throughout the mass, which was said primarily in Catalan, the first language of the region, Father Bonet would break into heavily accented English in order to include his guests. He even went so far as to ask, Artistic Director and Conductor, David R. White to read one of the scripture passages (in English), and to invite one of the singers to read the intercessory prayers (also in English). He remained to listen to the Choir’s brief concert after the service and seemed completely enthralled with their singing. He especially identified with their final song, the jubilant American Spiritual, “I Can Tell the World” by Moses Hogan.
Father Bonet was eager to pose for a picture with his new friends from Atlanta, and when asked if he thought he could allow them to sing upstairs in the Basilica, he paused a moment, smiled, and said, “Follow me.” Then came what was truly one of the most phenomenal experiences of the entire tour. This elderly man, who had spent the entirety of his long life in the service of the church of La Sagrada Familia, who had designed the stained-glass windows that filter the light as it enters the sacred space, who probably knows more about the building, its design, and history than any other living person, proceeded to lead the boys from Georgia on a personally-guided tour of the church.
The young travelers had to hustle in order to keep up with his lively step. With a simple wave of his hand, the venerable guide managed to get the entire entourage past the security lines and into the church. The boys listened eagerly as he excitedly explained the significance of many of the building’s features. At his request, they sang numerous times, both outside and in the unique edifice. Standing in front of the enormous bronze “Pater Noster” doors inside the sanctuary, which contain the Lord’s Prayer in 50 different languages, he asked them to repeat 3 times the glorious Alleluia they had earlier sung during the service. As their joyful voices echoed throughout the vast reaches of the structure, the thousands of visitors flocked to surround them and listened with obvious delight. They followed this with a thoughtful a capella performance of Javier Busto’s beautiful “Ave Maria” which was received with great satisfaction by the Monsignor as well as by the many others who listened quietly, causing all to remember that they were not in a tourist attraction, but indeed in a house of worship.
Before bidding them farewell, the aged priest thanked the Choir for their singing and told them that he would remember this day for the rest of his life. None of the boys is likely to forget it any time soon either.
Immensely satisfied with the final performance of their tour, the young travelers went on one last shopping excursion, to spend what few remaining Euros they might have had left, before turning their attention toward their next destination: HOME.
The 2:30 am wake-up call didn’t bother them, because they knew that soon they would be back in Atlanta and in the arms of their loving families with whom they could share stories of the phenomenal experiences they have enjoyed. After a brief layover in Paris, and an uneventful flight back across the Atlantic, the now seasoned travelers strode into the international terminal at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport greeted by an enthusiastic, cheering cadre of parents, siblings, fans, and friends with balloons and welcome-home banners.
Reflecting on the 19-day tour through Spain and Portugal, it is impossible to enumerate even a fraction of the benefits to these 34 young singers. They have seen and experienced remarkable places; they have met hundreds of people from different cultures and lands; they have learned about history, language, food, geography, music, art, architecture, religion, science, and culture; they have learned about themselves, becoming more independent and responsible; they have forged friendships which will last a lifetime; and they have enjoyed the fruition of countless hours of preparation and hard work. They are not the same as they were before they left. They are now more responsible, hard working, understanding, and hopefully more kind and beneficent. The memories and lessons they have learned will stay with them the rest of their lives.
Watch Barter with special unseen footage from the tour!
Many of you who have read these travelogues have played a part in making all of this possible for these boys. Please know that the Choir is grateful. If you have been moved by any of the reports and videos of this tour, please consider visiting www.GeorgiaBoyChoir.org/support-the-choir and do your part so that the Georgia Boy Choir can continue to make an impact in the lives of young boys and men, on the Atlanta community, and on the world through its program. Next summer, the Choir plans to tour Scotland and Ireland, where they have been invited to be the Choir-In- Residence for a week at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. It is sure to be another grand experience.
Until next time,
The 2016 Georgia Boy Choir Spain and Portugal Tour Team.