7. The organ and the romanesque paintings

In a Benedictine monastery like this one, music was not merely an accompaniment; it was an essential part of prayer.

Each day, the monks filled this church with liturgical chant, while the organ supported and enriched their communal prayer.

Historical records show that, in the Middle Ages, the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès was one of Catalonia’s most important centres of music. For this reason, a monumental organ was built at the beginning of the sixteenth century, becoming a striking visual presence within the church. The large organ piece of furniture you see today has housed many different instruments over the centuries. As it often happens with such complex mechanisms, time causes them to deteriorate, and they eventually need to be replaced.

The current organ dates from 1918 and was built by Gaietà Estadella, one of the best Catalan organ builders of the early twentieth century.

But Estadella was able to make only half of the organ he had designed.

It was not until 2022, that the organist Federico Acitores was able to complete and update the initial project, providing it with more voice records. This organ remains central to parish life, and you can hear it at Sunday Mass and other celebrations. However, this instrument still hides an unexpected secret!

Behind its structure, ancient Romanesque paintings have survived for centuries, protected by the organ itself. Among these frescoes, the figure of the Agnus Dei stands out, surrounded by a starry sky and angels who seem to silently bless this space.

These paintings are a valuable witness to the monastery’s Romanesque period and help us imagine the rich decoration that once covered the entire church. Pause for a moment, and imagine this church filled with Gregorian chant, while the organ’s music resounds beneath these paintings, hidden for so long.