February 9, 2012. (Romereports.com) Monsignor Valentín Miserachs has devoted more than half of his life to music. He's a composer, choirmaster and organist. For almost 18 years he's been the chairman of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music. It's one of the most important centers of religious music here in Rome. Last year, it celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Msgr. Valentín Miserachs
President, Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
“The events for this anniversary were concerts, meetings and academic and institutional events, as well as honorary doctorates. They ended with a big concert in the Basilica of St. Mary Major with the choir and orchestra of Radio Switzerland.”
The Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music was founded by St. Pius X in 1911. Benedict XVI visited the music school back in October 2007. It was a day marked by a minor mishap, when the pope's elevator suddenly stopped working.
Msgr. Valentín Miserachs
President, Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
“I didn't know how to react and said, 'Holy Father, we must go on foot'. And he asked how many floors there were. I said 'only one' and he asked if the stairway was very far. And as we climbed the stairs, it was just myself and the pope. It was a chance to talk about music, his brother who is also a Honorary Doctor by the Institute, the Maestro Ratzinger. And he visited the library for an hour that I think of as a moment in paradise.”
Miserachs loves all music but his favorite is Gregorian chant. He regrets that there is not enough attention on liturgical music.
Msgr. Valentín Miserachs
President, Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
“It's sad to go through these churches and hear certain kinds of music. Text and music that aren't consistent with the sacredness of the liturgy. This is a real shame.”
He also believes that this lack of care in music during Mass is due to the poor musical training of priests.
Msgr. Valentín Miserachs
President, Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
“The seminaries today don't teach the Gregorian, they don't teach music, whether it's sacred or not sacred. In the past, the most widely taught subject, the most practiced in our seminaries, was the music. Because we had half an hour each day of music theory and singing.”
He says he hopes the Congregation for Divine Worship will soon create a commission that will give Gregorian music the place it deserves.
Msgr. Valentín Miserachs
President, Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
“There's a lot of talk about establishing a Commission of the Congregation on music and art. I'm not sure there is progress. The Pope himself, when he was a cardinal, told me 'it's obvious that there's a need for this'. But the answer has not arrived and the need is growing every day because anarchy is increasing every day.”
The Institute of Sacred Music has nearly 150 students from all over the world. It's a school dedicated to music, that offers classes on playing the Organ, Choir, Composition and Gregorian Chant.
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