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The Baroque
in the Girona's Cathedral: The chapel master Josep Gaz (1690-1713).
JOSEP GAZ was born in Martorell the year 1656 to a family of craftsmen.
He began his musical studies with a church choir in Barcelona, obtaining
the post of Chapel Master in Mataró at the early age of 19. He
was later to move on to Sta. Maria del Mar in Barcelona and remained there
until he passed the eliminatory exams in Girona in 1690, where he spent
the rest of his life. In 1711 he retired as Chapel Master owing to excruciating
pains caused by gout. He then occupied the post of tenor in the same chapel
until his death in 1713.
The music chapel of Girona cathedral at that time was composed of about
20 members, four of whom were choir boys devoted to the high-pitched singing.
Due to the wide variety of liturgical necessities it was advisable to
have a fixed core of singers and instrumentalists to which other voices
or instrumentalists were added according to the complexity of the composition.
This variable structure allowed the Chapel Master more freedom enabling
him to compose not only short format pieces of solo and basso continuo
structure, suitable for the liturgical needs of local guilds and corporations
but also longer, orchestral pieces for important festivities and royal
visits.
Up to the present there have been few studies of Gaz's work in spite of
the high standard of his compositions. No portrait of him has been preserved
but thanks to certain clues we can imagine him as a small man of round
build, very hard-working, methodical, eloquent and extremely imaginative.
His education must have been broad yet solid, to judge by the samples
we can see both in the texts that he uses in his works and in the high
quality and originality of his musical compositions. In the former, the
language used is Castillian Spanish while Catalan remains marginal, only
appearing in certain carols where it is spoken by peasants and shepherds
and lower class people. The texts of these compositions can be considered
as part of the Spanish conceptista trend with a culteranismo influence
in the formal structure. This may well derive from the stylistic influence
of Calderón de la Barca, whose work he must have been familiar
with since part of a musical adaptation of his morality play Afectos de
Odio y Amor (Feelings of Love and Hate) has been preserved. The metrical
art of these texts is very free, although rhyme is often used despite
sounding forced. He also uses quite a large variety of rhetorical figures
that make the texts dificult to understand.
Nowadays it is not easy for us to imagine the Girona that Gaz encountered
on arriving there; while certain elements would seem to indicate a certain
vitality,others seem to point to a decline. Among the former we would
include the number of students enrolled at the University, approximately
four hundred, a fairly impressive number for a city of around seven thousand
inhabitants. Among the signs of decline we have the fleeing of the Girona
nobles - those from the area round Ciutadans street - to Madrid during
the XVII century in order to obtain favours from the monarchy of the House
of Austria. This flight was to cause the disappearance of the city's cultural
patrons and also a large number of families who depended on these nobles.
The attacks that the city suffered during the second half of the 17th
century owing to the French military expansion of Louis XIV is also one
of the causes of this decline that would finally cause Olot to have more
inhabitants than Girona. The lack of patronage from the nobility was compensated
in a certain way by the Church of the Counter Reform, fully active and
in expansion after the religious conflicts of the 16th century. It was
thus able to rein-
force its power and its presence by means of new forms of popular devotion,
and by a new impulse of religious music, as well as the creating of new
convents with new religious orders in the city.
It is difficult to understand the music of that time and Gaz's own music
too unless the radical changes of the second half of the 17th century
are borne in mind. Galileo, Huygens, Leibniz, among other scientists and
philosophers put forward theories of a new cosmology that was not based
on a finite world, easy to verify, such as for example, the rotation of
the earth, but was related to the conceptual sphere of the new astronomy,
the new mathematics that can be conceived but not imagined since they
are beyond our every day verifications. These new sciences show a world
without limits, enormous and empty, a creature that was made by God, but
by a God who appears even greater and more severe as the limits of the
universe broaden. The personal relationships with this God, whose image
has changed, were likewise transformed: mysticism, based more on feeling
than on
reason, was to become one of the new paths of religious experience. Gaz
would often follow this path using the language of the Spanish mystics.
Moreover, the role of craftsmen must not be forgotten in this context:
those who built the new instruments of scientific observation, the basis
of this revolution, were equally as important as those who invented the
new Baroque musical instruments without which Baroque music would have
been impossible.
Gaz's musical style is a blending of Spanish courtly music, harsh, austere,
and the new Italian style, softer and more playful that came in via the
port of Barcelona and which included the use of new musical instruments
-violins and violon- cellos- thus paving the way for new forms of sonority
to accompany the primitive basso continuo and creating greater musical
prominence with more splendour of sound. His style is of great versatility
with very elaborate and varied melodies. La Concepción de Maria,
(The Conception of the Virgin Mary) where he juxtaposes passages in the
old style with others that are totally bourgeois is possibly the best
example. Similarly, some of his villancicos are really primitive cantatas
where a recitation and at times, arias, have been added to the chorus
and the traditional compositions. Gaz was one of the promoters of the
use of violins in Girona, giving them a definitive impulse.
1. Oy que
Gerona a Maria (Today as Gerona [praises] the Virgin Mary) (1710):
the archduke Charles of Austria, pretender to the Spanish throne in the
War of Succesion (1702-1713) between the House of Austria and the Bourbons,
visited Girona in January 1710, after the city had decided to go over
to the Austrian side in 1705 due to pressure from Barcelona. In the face
of this situation the bishop of the city, Joan Miquel Taverner, a well-known
loyal to the Bourbons, emigrated to Perpignan and lived there under the
protection and patronage of Louis XIV. This cathedral reception in honour
of the Austrian pretender was majestic, with popular festivities and formal
receptions. This solemn villancico corresponds to the archduke's visit
to the cathedral where several masses were celebrated at the same time
with the pretender attending the main one. A lengthy composition, with
a profusion of voices and instruments which explains his rights of inheritance
to the Spanish throne in a popular way. According to the author, these
rights were confirmed by a series of wonders that prove he is the one
the heavens favour to be the king of Spain.
2. Venid
mortales (Come mortals) (1711): this villancico is the opposite of
the previous one. Its political slant favours the Bourbons. Girona fell
to the French army in January 1711 and the bishop, Taverner, hurried back
to his refuge in Perpignan. Apparently, he was not feeling too calm, as
he did not greet the ecclesiastical authorities that were waiting to welcome
him. The cathedral reception was finally held the following day. For this
reason Gaz composed this piece where he
clearly expresses the fear caused by the bishop's return and the French
military presence among the Girona clergy. We can see this in the words
"siendo butifleros aquí cantaremos" (although we are
loyal to the Bourbons, we will sing here) to seek the favour of an authoritarian
bishop who had persecuted his own priests, most of whom sided with the
House of Austria. The contrast between this piece and the previous one
is the only known element that allows us to form an opinion about Gaz's
political inclinations.
3. Del glovo
celeste (From the heavenly globe): this is a villancico in cantata
form for a soprano with violins and basso continuo. It was composed for
the inauguration of the altarpiece depicting the Immaculate Conception,
situated on the left of the main entrance to the cathedral. This altarpiece
reinforces the medieval Girona tradition referring to the Virgin Mary's
conception. It was done by the sculptor Pau Costa and paid for by the
canon Cristòfol Rich. The latter was very close to the Jesuits
and decided the pictorial content of the altarpiece: the top part was
dedicated to Saint Christopher, the centre to the Immaculate Conception,
and the bottom part to the death of St. Francesc Xavier (1506-1552). This
Jesuit saint and missionary in Japan, died in a cave near Macau when he
was waiting for authorization to enter China. It is a solemn composition
in which bourgeois elements coming from Italy are found alongside courtly,
old style Castilian elements, which endow the whole with a decidedly dramatic
character. This duality is also reflected in part of the composition where
the emaciated saint's corpse contrasts with the plump cherubs around the
cave, the sailing boats and the island in the background, that represent
the sea of south China.
4. Corazón
afligido (Troubled heart): it is in reality a cantata solo following
Italian models where narrative and reflective elements are combined -
arioso, recitation, aria, recitation, aria da capo, recitation and aria
- each one of them corresponding to different rhythms and the distinct
internal structural elements. The melody is very elaborate so that it
can be appreciated and assimilated by the congregation as their activity
during mass was totally passive at that time. It was initially dedicated
to Saint Theresa whose name was soon erased, possibly after the author's
death so that it could be sung on other religious occasions.
5. La Concepción
de Maria (The conception of the Virgin Mary): this is one of the composer's
most elaborate pieces. It is about a subject he had already dealt with
when he was younger and due to the great success it enjoyed, must have
been very dear to him. It is a villancico with the typical chorus and
couplets to which are added other elements of Italian origin such as the
opening and fugue at the beginning, the recitation, the aria and a choir
without the repetition of the initial chorus. It is interesting to notice
the baroque symbolism of the musical scale that goes from low to high
notes as if it were a path that communicates earth with heaven. The dialogue
between the instruments and the voices is characteristic of the new, in-coming
18th century style. The lyrics compare celestial harmony where God is
in charge, with that of earth destroyed by Adam with his sin (disonancia)
and put right by the Virgin Mary with her consonancia (harmony). We do
not know for which occasion it was composed, possibly for a festivity
dedicated to the Virgin that was celebrated in the cathedral. This subject
was not only dear to Gaz, but was also very prominent in the history of
Girona, both in its liturgy and art as well as among the city governors.
In 1394 king Joan I (1350-96) ordered the authorities of Girona to celebrate
this feast day every year and to punish all those who, like the Dominicans,
preached against it.
6. Tocad,
tocad clarines (Play, Heralds, Play): here Gaz mixes, baroque style,
three unrelated subjects: the figure of Saint Anne, the perpetual Peace
treaty and the street of Les Ballesteries in Girona. Even today this street
still has a niche dedi- cated to this saint, patroness of craftsmen who
elaborated household tools and ware: pans, spoons, pottery etc. since
she brought up the mother of God. Currently
there are still some ironmongers in this street. The basilica of Saint
Felix, where this piece was sung, has a chapel dedicated to Saint Anne.
It is not easy to establish the connection between this saint and the
treaty of Perpetual Peace; in January 1698 the French troops left the
city after occupying it for four years, following the Ryswick agreement.
When the troops of Charles II from Madrid arrived in Girona, a Te Deum
was sung in the cathedral. There is no record of it being composed by
Gaz, however. It would be sung in Gregorian chant. The reason for him
composing this piece may be that he was encouraged to do it by the requests
of neighbours from les Ballesteries who were tired of the French occupation
of Girona. It is quite unclear, however, why it was sung on Saturday,
August 9th 1698.
7. Al Juego del Hombre, Fabio (A game of cards): a very strange
and enigmatic composition dedicated to a Spanish card game that the author
uses with a moralizing intention according to an old tradition. It is
one of the few profane compositions by Gaz that has been preserved. We
do not know where and when it was sung, but the use of a limited amount
of musical resources would suggest a cultured, domestic setting. The lyrics
refer to the first card game known in Catalonia and Castille: it was called
"El Juego del Hombre" (Men's game), because of the main player.
The name Fabio was a common way to refer to a cautious man. The first
chorus warns men that to fool with women is always dangerous. This danger
is shown in the couplets through the card game using the four suits of
the traditional Spanish deck: bastos (clubs), oros (gold coins), copas
(goblets) and espadas (swords). Thus, women's eyes are swords that penetrate
the hardest of hearts; the goblets, carried in their refined hands, are
equally seductive; the gold coins represent their hair that men love to
contemplate, etc.
8. Xácara,
xacarilla de gusto (song based on a satirical ballad): this composition
dates from the composer's youth, probably from the time when he was Chapel
master in Mataró, although we do not know the circumstances in
which it was composed. It is based on Castilian ballads of the same name
that were Islamic in origin, of a satirical nature and often used rude
language. These ballads were used in the entr'actes of classic Castilian
comedies in the 17th century, at times accompanied by music, "la
xacarandina", or by dancing. Its popular tone can be seen not only
in the vocabulary, but also in the repetitive rhythm. This kind of composition
must have shocked the congregation of Mataró not only because it
is exotic but also because Gaz dared to apply this kind of music to praise
the privilege of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin.
MÚSICA ANTIGA DE GIRONA is an association dedicated to promulgating
the musical works of the cathedral chapel that are housed in the chapter
archive. It has digitalized scores written by 18th century Girona chapel
masters and presents them in concerts and also in CD editions.
Jaume Pinyol, Óscar
Bonany
English by Kathleen Knott
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