Female Gaze: septiembre 2025

Motets and songs by Benvingut Socias, a new book by Lluís Sintes, featuring previously unpublished compositions

septiembre 12, 2025

From left to right: Albert Solé Galí, author of the prologue; Josep Ràfols, Cultural CEO of the Baix Penedès Regional Council; Kenneth Martínez, Mayor of El Vendrell, Lluís Sintes, author of the book and Nativitat Castejón director of the Baix Penedès regional archive

María Dolores García Martínez (esguarddedona)

Anar a la versió en català

Ir a la versión en castellano

The compositions form part of Salvador Euras's documentary collection, which has been donated to the Government of Catalonia and deposited in the Baix Penedès regional archive

Lluís Sintes

Edit unpublished work

Lluís Sintes is passionate about editing and publishing musical works by composers from Vendrell, with the aim of preserving, protecting, and disseminating this cultural heritage, and this is not his first time working on this type of project.

Edited works:

For solo voice

- “Comiat” (Farewell). El Vendrell, 23 September 1895

- “Enyorament”. (Longing) Poem by Jaume Orpinell Borrut (1874-1909), the composer dedicated the work to him. The music was composed in El Vendrell on 21 October 1896

- “Queixa amorosa” (Love complaint) (Baritone version). Poem by Joan Ramon i Soler (1851 – 1900).

- “Queixa amorosa” (Tenor / soprano version). Poema by Joan Ramon i Soler

- “O Salutaris Hostia!”. Dedicated to Joan Bassa Casas, Joanet Terreno, (1868 – 1945).

- “O Salutaris Hostia!”. Dedicated to Eudald Serra (1882 – 1967). The music was composed in Barcelona on 22 November 1901.

- “Felicitació”. (Congratulation) Dedicated to Eudald Serra. The music was composed in El Vendrell on 24 December 1903.

For two voices or choir:

- “Goigs de Sant Salvador”. (Joys of San Salvador). Lyrics by Josep Pont Dalmau, priest. It premiered at the Chapel of Sant Salvador on 12 November 1894. It was part of the celebration of the "vot de poble" (vow of the people).[1] It was performed by a female choir and conducted by Emili Folch i Andreu (1872 – 1949)[2]. This composition was studied by Lluís Sintes for this book, but he donated it to be published in the book Els goigs de l’ermita de Sant Salvador del Vendrell. Textos, edicions i música (The joy of the chapel of San Salvador del Vendrell. Text, editions and music) published by the Orgue del Vendrell. In the book presented at this event, Lluís Sintes explains that the original score forms part of the Magriñá-Romeu family's documentary collection and was donated by Dolors Magriñá Romeu (1906 – 2000) to the Baix Penedès Regional Archive (Arxiu Comarcal del Baix Penedès)

- “Cobles del Rosari” (Rosary verses). Lyrics by Josep Pont Dalmau, priest. (1897)

[1] Vot de poble or vot del poble. The people's vow is a celebration that stems from a promise, and it is a commitment to hold a religious ceremony, for example, a procession. In this case, the vow originated in the 14th century. At that time, the Bishop of Barcelona, Ponç de Gualba (? - 1334), visited the three churches in the municipality of El Vendrell: Sant Vicençs de Calders, Sant Salvador de Calders and the chapel of Santa Ana. The first visit was in 1304. At that time, the parish was in Sant Salvador de Calders (now the chapel of Sant Salvador). However, it seems that people had problems attending Sunday mass because some of them had moved inland, about four kilometres away, due to poverty caused by disease in the damp areas and the risk of Saracen pirates. This long distance was also a problem when it rained or there were floods. Consequently, on 12th August 1307, the bishop signed a decree (the document that is currently kept in the Archive of the Archbishopric of Barcelona) determining the transfer to what would then be the chapel of Santa Ana. (The current building was constructed in the 18th century (1732-1739) to replace another from the 15th century) This popular vow has been celebrated since 1307, except for a period in the 20th century when the chapel became part of the church of Comarruga. However, Josep Maria Barenys i Capellades (1929-2020), rector of the parish of El Vendrell for 42 years, revived the celebration, aware of its antiquity and importance. This popular vow is celebrated on 2 November and includes a procession, a solemn mass, the singing of the ‘Goigs’, and a prayer for the deceased buried in the vicinity of the chapel.

[2] Nativitat Castejón published a biography of Emili Folch i Andreu at the Centre for Studies of the Conca de Barberà

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For four voices

“Et incarnatus est” from the mass in G. (Music written in Barcelona, 8 May 1894)

- “Benedictus qui venit”. Motet. Dedicated to the Reverend Francisco Peña, priest. Music written in El Vendrell, 5 February 1897

The book contains lyrical music, motets, and popular religious songs.

The publication of the compositions is preceded by an introduction and a foreword by Albert Solé. The book contains a magnificent selection of images about the life, work, and people who were part of Benvingut Socias' life and work.

Extensive and intensive research work

Lluís Sintes has conducted extensive research, both in the Baix Penedès Regional Archive and in the National Library of Catalonia, the XAC Press Portal of the Department of Culture of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Virtual Library of Historical Press and the Digital Newspaper Library of the National Library of Spain (both belonging to the Ministry of Culture), as well as the Diocesan Archive of Lugo, Galiciana, the Digital Library of Galicia and the Archdiocesan Historical Archive of Tarragona, in addition to consulting an extensive bibliography.

Presentation ceremony

The book launch took place on International Archives Day. (This day was established in 2008 at the proposal of the International Council on Archives (ICA). The date chosen was 9 June because on this day in 1948, the ICA was created at the proposal of UNESCO. (The United Nations Organization that promotes cooperation in education, science, culture and communication to foster peace worldwide). The presentation ceremony was attended by Kenneth Martínez, Mayor of El Vendrell; Josep Ràfols, General Councillor for Culture of the Baix Penedès Regional Council; Albert Solé author of the foreword; Nativitat Castejon, director of the Baix Penedès Regional Archive and host of the event, and Lluís Sintes, author of the musical editions and the book.

The ceremony included a concert featuring several musical compositions by Benvingut Socias. The concert was performed by Jordi Joan Pascual (piano), Joan Urpí (tenor), Griselda Ramon (soprano) and Àlex Jordi (piano). This was the concert programme:

From left to right: Àlex Jordi and Jordi Joan Pascual

Jordi Joan Pascual (piano)

Records de la Plana. Passejant pel llac (1896). (Memories of "La Plana. Walking around the lake)

Jordi Joan Pascual (piano) y Àlex Jordi (piano)

Marxa per a piano a quatre mans (1895). (March for piano four hands)

From left to right: Àlex Jordi, Jordi Joan Pascual and Joan Urpí (tenor)

Joan Urpí (tenor) accompanied on the piano by Jordi Joan Pascual

Comiat (1895). (Farewell). Poem by unknown author.

Enyorament (1896). (Longing). Poem by Jaume Orpinell Borrut (1874 – 1909)

Àlex Jordi (piano) and Griselda Ramon (soprano)

Griselda Ramon, soprano, accompanied on the piano by Àlex Jordi

Queixa Amorosa. (Love complaint). Poem by Joan Ramon i Soler (1851 – 1900)

O salutaris hostia! (1901). (Saving sacrifice)

A video about Benvingut Socias Mercadé by Lluís Sintes

Lluís Sintes has also made a vídeo about Benvingut Socias. (It is in Catalan and has no subtitles. It lasts 3'52")

Further information

Who was Benvingut Socias?

Benvingut Socias Mercadé (1877 – 1952) was an internationally renowned pianist. He was also a composer and teacher. Like Pablo Casals (1876 - 1973), and the cellist, tenor and music teacher Bonaventura Dini (1876 - 1936), he received his first music lessons from Carles Casals Riba, Pablo Casals' father. (Socias, Casals and Dini were friends since childhood).

In 1887, Socias joined the Montserrat Choir School (Escolania de Montserrat). His teacher was the religious father Manuel Guzmán (1846 - 1909). Guzman was a composer, chapel master and organist, and directed the "Escolania" between 1890 and 1909. He carried out a comprehensive reform.

In 1893, he began his training at the Municipal School of Music in Barcelona. He was a student of Joan Baptista Pellicer (1862 - 1930).

Socias won two composition awards. The first one was at the Lugo Artistic-Literary Competition, with the work "Santísima Trinidad" (1896). The second was at the Literary-Musical Competition of the Ateneo León XII in Santiago de Compostela with the "Mass for four voices, choir, orchestra and organ" (1897).

In 1898, he was appointed assistant piano teacher at the Barcelona Music School, in his teacher's class, and worked there until 1903.

He married Blanca Bonastre Jiménez (1875 - 1944) in 1899,

In 1903, he performed with the Barcelona Musical Association Orchestra, conducted by Joan Lamote de Grignon (1872 - 1949) (Lamote was a composer, conductor, teacher and founder of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra. He was also a guest conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and, in particular, a highly successful conductor of the Barcelona Municipal Band. Pablo Casals and Richard Strauss were admirers of Lamote).

Pablo Casals opened the door to international concerts for Benvingut Socias, who when on to perform in Paris in 1906. In 1908, both performed at the Palau de la Música Catalana to great acclaim. That same year, both participated in the "Collas Sardanisticas" Competition in El Vendrell. Socias presented the sardana "Planyivola", an adjective meaning an expression of pain or sorrow that moves one to compassion; Casals presented "Festivola", an adjective meaning festive. In autumn Socias embarked on a European tour of Germany, Belgium, France and England.

In 1909, Benvingut Socias travelled to the United States to give concerts and also worked as an accompanist pianist at the Corning Conservatory of Music, with the violinist and conductor Frank Kneisel (1865 - 1926) and with Fran Keneisel (1865 - 1926) at the New York Institute of Musical Art[1], now known as The Juilliard School.

Between 1910 and 1913, Socias toured Germany and England with Pablo Casals and baritone Bogea Oumiroff (1864 - 1929) and violinists André Mangeot (1883 - 19170) and Tara Vallace. (Some musicians were very well known in their day, but today they are almost forgotten, and we have some references, particularly from the archive of press clippings and magazines in the Music Division of the New York Public Library and in some cases in clipping from The General Press Cutting Association Ltd in London, which this company requested from individuals or institutions and can now be found in public or private archives, but no sources have been found that indicate the dates of birth and death. It is the case of Tara Wallace or the case of the cellist Paulo Gruppe, who performed with Socias and left a recording on a wax cylinder that can be heard at this link.)

During the First World War (1914 - 1918), Benvingut Socias was unable to give concerts in Europe.

In 1918, Benvingut Socias gave two concerts in Barcelona at the Sala Mozart (Mozart Hall). A review in the Gaceta de Barcelona (25 May 1918) said that, beneath Socias' modesty, he was:

"...a concert pianist with a temperament and qualities that some of the great pianists we have heard lack"

Between 1919 and 1935, he held the chair of advanced piano studies at the Liceu Conservatory of Music (Conservatori de Música del Liceu) in Barcelona

In 1919, he performed at the Palau de la Música Catalana in two concerts for the members of the Da Camera Music Association of Barcelona (Associació de Música 'Da Camera' de Barcelona). The orchestra was conducted by Josep Rabentós i Canals (1887 - 1932), and violinist Mathieu Crickboom (1871 - 1947) also performed in the concert. (Josep Rabentós was also born in El Vendrell and had been a pupil of Bonaventura Dini (1876 - 1936) and Pablo Casals).

The First Penedès Art Exhibition was held in 1926, and Benvingut Socias and Pablo Casals gave a concert at the Teatro Principal in Vilafranca del Penedès. That same year, both returned to the Palau de la Música, and Socias returned to England to give a series a concerts. In 1927, he performed again with Casals at the Second Penedès Art Exhibition, this time in El Vendrell, their hometown.

In 1935, he gave a single concert in Barcelona with Pablo Casals' orchestra. The following year, the Spanish Civil War broke out. Socias went into exile in London, where he gave concerts and lessons. When the Civil War ended, he returned to El Vendrell.

In 1941, he participated in a concert to celebrate the restoration of the organ and was appointed honorary organist.

En 1951, hid hometwon paid a tribute to Benvingut Socias. (You will find more information about this tribute in the section dedicated to documents related to tributes to Benvingut Socias.)

Benvingut Socias died on 4 March 1952, in El Vendrell

(Sources: Research conducted by Nativitat Castejón, director of the Arxiu Comarcal del Baix Penedès (Baix Penedès Regional Archive), published in various articles, books and on the panels of an exhibition dedicated to Benvingut Socias. )

[1] The New York Institute of Musical Art was founded in 1905 by Frank Damrosch (1859 - 1937). Franz Liszt's godson. He hired prominent European musicians as teachers. The School was located on Fifth Avenue until 1910, but it was so successful that it needed to move to larger premises near Columbia University in the Morningside Heights neighbourhood (west side of Upper Manhattan). Later, through a bequest from Augustus Juilliard (1924), the Juilliard Graduate School was created, and in 1926, both institutions became the Juilliard School of Music. Benvingut Socias worked as a piano accompanist at the New York Institute of Musical Art between 1909 and 1910.

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Books

Nativitat Castejón Domenech, historian and director of the Arxiu Comarcal del Baix Penedès, is the author of the book Benvingut Socias Mercadé (1877-1952), un músico vendrellenc per descobrir (Benvingut Socias Mercadé (1877-1952), a musician from Vendrell waiting to be discovered).

Maria Ramon Caballé (1945) is the author of the book Petita història de Benvingut Socias (A Brief History of Benvingut Socias). In 2023, Maria Ramon Caballé received the Teresina Martorell Award in recognition of her work on behalf of the Vendrell community through her activities related to education, culture and literature, among others. The illustrations in the book are by Pilarín Bayés de Luna (1941), a renowned cartoonist and illustrator linked to Catalan culture, whose work is especially dedicated to children and young people. She has received numerous awards, from the Cross of Sant Jordi (1991) to being included in the Forbes 2025 list as one of the 100 most influential women in Catalonia.

Exhibition 'Benvingut Socias Mercadé: life and work'

In Catalonia, the cultural event RECERCAT is held annually in the city or municipality chosen as the Catalan Cultural Capital. In 2020, El Vendrell was the chosen city. The exhibition 'Benvingut Socias Mercadé:life and work' was part of the events. However, due to the pandemic, the celebration became a digital event. The exhibition was organised by the Baix Penedès Regional Archive (Arxiu Comarcal del Baix Penedès), the Vendrell Organ Association (Orgue del Vendrell), and the Vendrell Nativity Scene Group (Grup Pessebrista del Vendrell). The curator was Nativitat Castejón. In fact, this exhibition was organised in 2017 to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the birth of Benvingut Socias. Its presence at RECERCAT aimed to raise awareness of Benvingut Socias in other Catalan-speaking areas. Finally, in 2022, the exhibition was presented at the García Lorca Centre of Andalusia del Vendrell (Centro Cultural Andalucía García Lorca del Vendrell), to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the musician's death. (RECERCAT is organised by the Ramon Muntaner Institute with the support and participation of cultural organisations and institutions and public administrations.)

One of the panels in the exhibition

Tribute programmes in El Vendrell in the 20th century

Concert programme 18 June 1944

The concert [1] was organised by the 'El Vendrell Sports Club, Conference and Concert Group' (Club Deportivo, Grupo de conferencias y conciertos del Vendrell) and took place at the Tivolí Theatre. (The programme is in Spanish and was printed by Impremta Barnadas. It is now part of the El Vendrell Digital Library.

Tribute programme. The tribute was held between 19 and 21 January 1951 in the Tívoli Theatre. Enric Casals (brother of Pablo Casals) conducted the 'De Camera Professional Orquestra', the tribute also included a mass in memory of Blanca Bonastre de Socias, wife of Benvingut Socias. The El Vendrell Town Council named Benvingut Socias an honorary citizen of the town and placed a bust of Benvingut Socias, a work by Joan Borrull Soler (1880 - 1960), in the plenary hall. In addition, it changed the name of Plaza de la Paja (Straw Square) to Plaza Benvingut Socias.

The tribute was proposed by a group of music lovers from El Vendrell and the Societat Coral La Lira Vendrellenca (Lira Vendrellenca Choral Society), and the Town Council.

[1] It is interesting to highlight one of the pieces from the concert, as it is not a very popular work by Franz Liszt (1811-1886). It was an unusual choice for a concert in a small village like El Vendrell at that time. There is no recording of Benvingut Socias, but to facilitate understanding of this piece, a link is included to the work performed by Mieczyslaw Horszowski (1892 - 1993), a pianist who also played with Pablo Casals and recorded sonatas with him in the 1930s. The recording is from 1940, belongs to Vatican Radio and was rescued from the original audio tape before it was lost. The piece is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi (1862) and forms part of S175, along with another dedicated to St Francis de Sales (1863). Liszt was devoted to St. Francis, and Jorge Luis Modolell carried out research published by Washington University in St Louis, entitled: “Musical and Spiritual Meaning in the Franciscan Works o Franz Liszt”. In this work, Modolell explains the narrative dimension of Liszt's music and also the spiritual meaning of the work.

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Videos related to Benvingut Socias

Benvingut Socias House (“The Movie”)

It is a silent film from 1927 shot in 'La Plana'. (La Plana was the usual residence of Benvingut Socias and his wife Blanca Bonastre Jiménez (1875 - 1944); in fact, it was a usufruct received from an aunt of Blanca Bonastre).

In the film, the Socias family opened the gardens of their home to the people of Vendrell. There are the typical explanatory texts with a sense of humour, such as "a soloist. The conductor who sweeps the audience off their feet with his art...‘, ’another great soloist generously paid by specialists in deafness‘, or ’the aces of the Charleston (what must the others be like!)". Even at the end of the film, when no one wants to pay the bill, an elderly woman pays it amid applause from the audience. The title of the film is ‘Fiesta en el Tancat de La Plana de Benvingut Socias Mercader’ (there is a mistake because on the right it is Mercadé). The film is part of the Historical Heritage of Catalonia catalogue. The Regional Archives Network has a report from 2022 about a concert held behind the house in La Plana. This report describes how the film was shot on 10 July 1927. This film was indirectly related to a tribute [1] to Pablo Casals held that same day in El Vendrell. This tribute was an initiative of the Pablo Casals Orchestra. Casals conducted a free concert and later gave another concert for which admission was charged, with the proceeds going to the town of El Vendrell. That afternoon, the film was shot in La Plana on the initiative of Mrs Ribas. Mrs Ribas was the owner of the Tivolí Theatre, and it was she who proposed the idea for the film to the Socias family. On 20 July, the film premiered at her theatre to great success. The film was produced by Editorial Delfos.

[1] On 2 January 2009, a part of the celebrations marking the 132nd anniversary of Pablo Casals' birth, this film was screened at Vil·la Casals. Historian and cultural expert Àngels Santacana provided the historical context for the film and its rediscovery. Àngels Sanacana began searching for the film when Alfons Vidiella (author of several books, including 'El Vendrell 1936-1939' and editor of Josep Aixalà i Casella's book 'Between El Vendrell and Havana' ("Entre el Vendrell i l'Havana") asked her about it. She consulted the Pau Casals Foundation, the Terra Baixa Library in El Vendrell, the Filmoteca de Catalunya and the Baix Penedès Regional Archive, where the film was kept. In fact, there were two films: one of the tribute to Casals and another of the party at the Socias family home, both on the same day and complementing each other as was that festive day of musical recognition. The weekly newspaper 'El 3 de vuit' (the name that refers to a kind of typical human castle of those who perform the 'Castellers') published a report on this presentation.

Note: To write this part of the entry, I also used the text 'The music of Benvingut Socias returns to La Plana' by Nativitat Castejón (17 July 2022) in the Regional Archives Network of Catalonia and the text of the project by the Vendrell Town Council and the Pau Casals Foundation on a tribute to Casals by the Camera Musicae Symphony Orchestra in the Plaza Nova in el Vendrell.

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Getting to know the musician Benvingut Socias through his postcards.

This video from the Regional Archives Network shows a selection of postcards sent or received by Benvingut Socias and his wife. The music in the video is ‘Recuerdos de La Plana. Paseando por el lago’ (1896) (Memories of La Plana. Strolling by the lake), the pianist is Jordi Joan Pascual. The production is by the Vendrell Town Council, the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia): General Directorate of Cultural Heritage. Baix Penedès Regional Archive, the Baix Penedès Regional Council and the Vendrell Organ Association. The realisation is by the Baix Penedès Regional Archive.

Concert: 'The registers of the organ and the colour of voices'

The concert took place on 18 March 2022, at the Parish Curch of El Vendrell. Featuring performances of works by Benvingut Socias, Pablo Casals (1876 - 1973), Agustí Cohí Grau (1921 - 2012), Jehan Alain (1911 - 1940) and Olo Gheill (1978). Performed by Cor Zóngora, Yasmín El Farhi Medina (soloist), Montserrat Vidal Ribas (flute), Jonatan Carbó (organ), conducted by Montserrat Meneses (renowned choral music director who also conducts the Orfeó Català Girl's Choir).

144th anniversary of Benvingut Socias birth and concert by the Organists of Vendrell

The video was recorded on 1 November 2021. The first 30 minutes are a lecture on the book 'Silvio Puggina: the unknown restoration of the Vendrell organ' by Nativitat Castejón. From minute 31 onwards, you can enjoy a concert featuring works by Benvingut Socias (Prelude for organ), dedicated to Pablo Casals, Johan Pachelbel (1653 - 1706), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750), and Heinrich Schütz (1585 - 1672), among others. Also included is the Prelude in G minor BuxWv 149 by Dietrich Buxtehude (1637 - 1707), an organist and composer greatly admired by Bach. The organists are: Josep Mateu, Jordi Guitart, Josep M. Guitart, Joan Marc Ferrer, Albert Solé, Jordi Pascual, Salvador Guasch, and Àlex Jordi.

Cor Iúbilo – Concert de primavera – Alcanar.

The video includes the piece “Goigs de Sant Salvador” by Benvingut Socias.

The organists of Vendrell - Benvingut Socias and Pau Casals, an enduring friendship

The video was recorded on 27 October 2023. The first 30 minutes are a lecture by Nativitat Castejón about the friendship between Benvingut Socias and Pau Casals. From minute 31 onwards, you can enjoy a concert with works by Bach, Casals, Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 - 1759), Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937) and Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911), among others. Link to the chronicle of the lecture

The Ollé Sanromà family on the beach at San Salvador of El Vendrell and Barcelona by Antoni Ollé Pinell

The music of this video is Danza campestre para piano (1894) (Country Dance for Piano) by Benvingut Socias, played by Àlex Jordi.

Del Tancat de la Plana al món, homenatge a Benvingut Socias (From La Plana to the world, a tribute to Benvingut Socias)

A tribute composed by Carlota Baldrís with Jaume Aguza on the"gralla" and Jonatan Carbó on the organ. (The gralla is a woodwind instrument, with a truncated cone-shaped tube and a double reed). This piece was the winner of the first International Competition Benvingut Socias for gralla and organ, organised by "Amics de l'Orgue del Vendrell" (Friends of the Vendrell Organ Association)

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