Jaume Vidal
Jaume Vidal
Genres: 17th century, catalan
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About Jaume Vidal
Jaume Vidal, (San Feliú de Llobregat, c. July 27, 1607 - Monastery of Montserrat, January 9, 1689) was a Catalan composer and master of chapel, as well as a monk of the Monastery of Montserrat. He went more unnoticed than his contemporary, Juan Cererols. Jaime Vidal was a man who greatly loved the retirement and loneliness of the monastic cell for personal prayer, meditation, knowledge of Sacred Scripture and intellectual work. That's why he was confessor and spiritual director. Son of Felip Vidal and Joana, he was baptized on July 27, 1607. From devout parents, he entered the school of Montserrat, probably between the ages of 8 and 10, and by the time, it is likely that he had Father Bernat Barecha as a musical teacher. On July 24, 1628, at the age of 21, he was received in the novitiate of Montserrat by Abbot Beda Pi. He was accepted into the monastery, since he stood out for his musical qualities, his goodness and his spiritual finesse. Apart from the spiritual formation proper to the novitiate, he studied normal ecclesiastical studies and higher education. He was a disciple of Antonio Escaules, a monk of Montserrat of French origin, who taught in Salamanca. That's why we assume that Jaume Vidal studied in Salamanca, although he is not entirely safe. Returning to the Monastery of Montserrat, he was a prosecutor of the House of Montserrat in Barcelona. From there he went on to teach Philosophy at the Monastery of San Benito de Bages. Later he taught theology in the monastery of Sant Génis des Fontanes, of which he became abbot in 1649, replacing Father Plácido de Fontcalda. From 1635 to 1637 and from 1649 to 1653 he was master of chapel of the Cathedral of the Seo de Urgel. In both cases he took office after the departure of Juan Arañés, the first time to the Tortosa Cathedral, the second he may have died, although there is no documentary evidence of why Arañés left office. He remained for a few years on both occasions. There is also news that from 1643 he held the magisterium of the Cathedral of Gerona from Reus. He stayed until 1645, when on December 14 he requested a license from the council to leave for Castellón. From 1669, he was Prior of St. Peter of Riudevitlles. He was still Governor of the Baronies, Vicar of the Hermits, Major Singer of Montserrat, Second Butler, Prior and Sacristan of Montserrat. During the exile through the lands of Castile, he was required as a novice master of the Benedictine monasteries of Santo Domingo de Silos, Oña and Cerdanya. In addition, it was thanks to his intercession before King Philip IV of Spain that the Catalan monks of Montserrat ceased to be banished to land of Castile or Italy. In 1665 the former abbot of Montserrat, Juan Manuel de Espinosa, wanted to have him nearby while he was archbishop of Tarragona and entrusted him with the cataloguing of the Camprodón archive. The work that Jaime Vidal has left us is the result of his intellectual and artistic activity, but unfortunately, this work has either been lost or has come to us mutilated. His musical training in school gave rise to some polyphonic musical compositions. In total, we know 13 written works, of which only 5 are complete. All are polyphonic songs, according to the style of the moment, accompanied by continuous bass, although often, and especially in polycorial works, instruments were used that reinforced or supplaquely the voices of the singers.
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