DICMENGE II. – En la nit seguent pus prop a aquest digmenge poch apres que hagueren tochades IX hores per voler de Deu fou terratremol en la Ciutat de Barchinona lo qual no dura gayra sino fort poch. E la nit del dilluns apres seguent entre una et dues hores apres migenit se continua lo dit terratremol e dura I poch mes que la primera vegada.
Etiqueta: Pirineos
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Terremoto de la Candelaria
Ffeste de la Purificacio de la Verge Maria. Aquest dia segons plague a Nostre Senyor Deu vers les VIII hores ans de mig jorn fou molt gran e spevantable terratremol et de gran durada per lo qual en los mes alberchs de la Ciutat se feneren parets et en alsgunes se enderrocharen envans cuynes fumerals et escales. E en la Esgleya de Nostra Dona S.ta Maria de la Mar caygue certa part de la O.[1] e entre homens dones et infants morirenhi XXI o XXII. Deus haie lurs animes amen.
- [1]Rosetón.↩
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El entorno: Montserrat, banderolismo, piratería, supersticiones
To Sir James Crofts.
I am now a good way within the Body of Spain, at Barcelona, a proud wealthy City, situated upon the Mediterranean, and is the Metropolis of the Kingdom of Catalonia, called of old Hispania Tarraconensis. I had much ado to reach hither; for besides the monstrous Abruptness of the Way, these Parts of the Pyrenees that border upon the Mediterranean, are never without Thieves by Land (called Bandoleros) and Pirates on the Sea-side, which lie sculking in the Hollows of the Rocks, and often surprise Passengers unawares, and carry them Slaves to Barbary on the other Side. The safest Way to pass, is to take a Bordon in the Habit of a Pilgrim, whereof there are abundance that perform their Vows this Way to the Lady of Monserrat, one of the prime Places of Pilgrimage in Christendom: It is a stupendious Monastery, built on the Top of a huge Land-Rock, whither it is impossible to go up or come down by a direct Way, but a Path is cut out full of Windings and Turnings; and on the Crown of this craggy Hill there is a Flat, upon which the Monastery and Pilgrimage-place is founded, where there is a Picture of the Virgin Mary sun-burnt and tanned, it seems when she went to Egypt; and to this Picture, a marvellous Confluence of People from all Parts of Europe resort.
As I passed between some of the Pyreney-hills, I perceived the poor Labradors, some of the Country People, live no better than brute Animals, in point of Food; for their ordinary Commons is Grass and Water, only they have always within their Houses a Bottle of Vinegar, and another of Oil; and when Dinner or Supper-time comes, they go abroad and gather their Herbs, and so cast Vinegar and Oil upon them, and will pass thus two or three Days without Bread or Wine; yet they are strong lusty Men, and will stand stiffly under a Musket.
There is a Tradition, that there were divers Mines of Gold in Ages past amongst those Mountains: And the Shepherds that kept Goats then, having made a small Fire of Rosemary-stubs, with other combustible Stuff to warm themselves, this Fire grazed along, and grew so outrageous, that it consumed the very Entrails of the Earth, and melted those Mines; which growing fluid by Liquefaction, ran down into the small Rivulets that were in the Vallies, and so carried all into the Sea, that monstrous Gulph which swalloweth all, but seldom disgorgeth any thing: And in these Brooks to this Day some small Grains of Gold are found.
The Viceroy of this Country hath taken much Pains to clear these Hills of Robbers, and there hath been a notable Havock made of them this Year; for in divers Woods as I passed, I might spy some Trees laden with dead Carcasses, a better Fruit far than Diogenes’s Tree bore whereon a Woman had hanged herself; which the Cynic cried out to be the best bearing Tree that ever he saw.
In this Place there lives neither English Merchant or Factor; which I wonder at, considering that it is a maritime Town, and one of the greatest in Spain, her chiefest Arsenal for Gallies, and the Scale by which she conveys her Monies to Italy: But I believe the Reason is, that there is no commodious Port here for Ships of any Burden, but a large Bay. I will enlarge myself no farther at this time, but leave you to the Guard and Guidance of God, whose sweet Hand of Protection hath brought me thro’ so many uncouth Places and Difficulties to this City. So hoping to meet your Letters in Alicant, where I shall anchor a good while, I rest
Yours to dispose of, J. H. Barcelona, 24 Nov. 1620.
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Una entrada en Barcelona desde Montserrat
Leave the convent [Montserrat], and take the road for Barcelona, which, in richness of vegetable accompaniment, is inferior to that by which we came; we were several miles descending. Pass Orevoteau[???], where is a hedge of aloes four feet high : here we are in a high road, for we meet for the first time a cabriolet. Passa wretched ilony desert, which yields only aromatic plants, scattered with dismal evergreen oaks. Esparagara is the first manufacturing town we met with; woollen cloths, stuffs, and laces: the town is near a mile long. Near Martorell, see the triumphal arch, said to be built by Annibal; it has been lately repaired. In that town every one is employed in lace making; they have, however, another occupation not quite so agreeable to the eye, that of picking vermin out of each other’s heads, in which numbers of them were employed; nor can any thing be more stinking or filthy than their persons, or more dirty than their houses: to view either, is enough to impress the idea, that cleanliness is one of the first of the virtues, and doubly so in such a hot climate. No new houses in any of these towns. The country is disagreeable, and rendered worse by many beds of torrents, without a drop of water j arid and hurtful to the eye. Apricots, plumbs, melons, &c. ripe, and sold in the streets.
Come to a noble road, which they are making at the expence of the king; fifty or sixty feet wide, and walled on the side to support the earth, of which it is formed. The country now is far more populous and better built, many vines, and much cultivation.
It will probably be found, that the great reputation of this province has arisen from the improvements in the lower, flat, and irrigated parts; if so, it ought to be discriminated; for by far the larger part of it is mountainous, not less in proportion, I should conceive, than seven-eighths.
Pass a large paper mill; and continuing on the same fine road, join another equally great and well made, that leads to Villa Franca. Turn to the left for Barcelona, and cross a bridge of red granite, a solid, durable, and noble work, four hundred and forty paces long; but, though built only eight years ago, is in a bad and inelegant stile. Now meet a great number of carts and carriages, drawn by very fine mules, and mark every appearance of approaching a great city. Within two or three miles of it, there are many villas and good buildings of all sorts, spreading to the right and left, and seen all over the country. I have been at no city since we left Paris, whose approach carries such a face of animation and cheerfulness; and considering Paris as the capital of a great kingdom, and Barcelona as that of a province only, the latter is more striking beyond all comparison. This noble road does honour to the present king of Spain; it is carried in an even line over all narrow vales, so that you have none of the inconveniencies which otherwise are the effect of hills and declivities. A few palm trees add to the novelty of the prospect to northern eyes. The first view of the town is very fine, and the situation truly beautiful. The last half mile we were in great haste to be in time for the gates, as they are shut at nine o’clock. We had had a burning ride of forty miles, and were a good deal fatigued, yet forced to undergo a ridiculous search, as every thing pays an entrée to government on going into the town; and we had still two miles I believe to pass, first to the French crown, which inn was full, and then to La Fonde, where we found good quarters.My friend thought this the most fatiguing day he had ever experienced: the excessive heat oppressed him much; and, indeed, travellers in general are much more prudent than to ride during the whole day in the middle of July, choosing rather to expose themselves to fatigue here in the morning and evening only. But after a succession of dog holes, with perpetual starving and mortification in the mountains, the contrast of this inn was great. It is a very good one, with many waiters, active and alert as in England. A good supper, with some excellent Mediterranean fish; ripe peaches; good wine; the most delicious lemonade in the world; and good beds, all tended to revive us; but Mons. Lazowiki was too much fatigued for enjoying them. –40 miles.
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Estreno en italiano de Los Pirineus, ópera nacionalista de Víctor Balaguer y Felipe Pedrell
Més de deu anys feya que la trilogía Els Pireneus havía sortit de la ment del séu creador, sense que ‘l públich de la terra que té la cordillera pirenaica per corona hagués pogut assaborir sas musicals bellesas… Y no ‘s dirá qu’ en Pedrell, terminada la séva obra descansés, que ja es sabut qu’ en materia de óperas, costa menos compóndrelas que ferlas posar en escena, fins quan l’ autor gosa de una reputació tan ben sentada com la del mestre tortosí, avuy sens dupte la primera figura musical del nostre país.
Avants, durant y després del séu part, el mestre Pedrell no sossegava, erigintse en campeó de l’ ópera espanyola constituhida ab la riquesa musical que possehim, tant en las deus puríssimas de la musa popular, com en las olvidadas creacións dels mestres antichs… verdaders tresors recóndits que sols esperan qui ‘ls esploti y ‘ls presenti en tota sa hermosura, revestits ab las galas de la técnica moderna. Furgant y desenterrant, en persuassius escrits y en admirables resurreccións, el mestre Pedrell ha vingut dihentho sempre:-Espanya posseheix una música séva, propia y característica.
Y la séva veu trobava més eco al extranger que á casa nostra.
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En uns concerts de Venecia va executarse un día ‘l prólech de Els Pirineus, ab un éxit extraordinari. Ja fou el públich llavoras – pero un públich extranger – qui vingué á confirmar plenament l’ opinió dels mestres.
Y ab tot, aquí á Espanya, ahont tant deuría interessarnos l’ existencia de una institució musical característica, respectable y respectada, aquí á Espanya ‘ls Pirineus permaneixían embolcallats ab la néu de la més freda indiferencia.
Un acaudalat marqués s’ oferí un día á rompre ‘l gel, costejant la representació á tot rumbo de l’ ópera d’ en Pedrell. Pero li féren notar – perque ell no havía tingut temps d’ enterarse’n – que ‘l llibre d’ en Balaguer versava sobre epissodis de la guerra dels albigesos, qu’ era molt lliberal y que fins tenía ‘ls séus punts y ribets d’ herétich, y l’ acaudalat marqués, que ab tot menos ab el negoci es un home sumament escrupulós, va ferse enrera y va tancar la bossa. Pera deixarlo content hauría sigut precís falsificar l’historia.
Passaren anys. Estancada la partitura en el Real de Madrit, ahont havía sigut admesa en concurs públich y ab grans elogis, no sé cóm á la fi ha vingut á raure en el Liceo de Barcelona. L’ empresa Bernis y la Junta de propietaris li han obert las portas del Gran Teatro, y encare que no li han donat tot lo qu’ ella mereix en punt á decorat escénich, riquesa indumentaria y nutrició de la massa coral, … Més val poch que res.
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Notém ademés que Els Pirineus, escrits en catalá sobre ‘ls robustos y armoniosos versos d’ en Víctor Balaguer, han hagut de cantarse, per primera vegada á Catalunya, traduhits al italiá. Aixó que no es poch quan se tracta de una composició feta á istil modern, en que la lletra y la música compenetran sos íntims accents, no ha impedit que l’ obra si imposés desde ‘l primer día.
Hi ha qui, al visitar per primera vegada ‘l Museo de pinturas de Madrit, volentho veure tot en un día, ne surt marejat; pero si repeteix las visitas acaba pera gosar lo que no pot dirse, ab la contemplació atenta de cada una de aquellas obras mestras. Tal els succehirá á molts ab el primer acte de Els Pirineus, qu’ es tot un museu de música espanyola, felisment restaurada pel geni y ‘l talent del mestre tortosí.
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Enorgullimnos de que sigui un catalá, qui en els temps presents de trista decadencia, haja sabut colocarse á tan gran altura, elevant ab ell al públich, pera senyalarli horisons plens de llum, de art y de gloria… Enorgullimnos sobre tot de que sigui un catalá, no dels que ‘s recluheixen á casa seva, com el trist y peresós cargol dintre la closca, sino dels que prenent el pich més alt del Pirineu per punt de apoyo, de la primera esbranzida logran pendre ‘l vol segur y magestuós de las águilas, que per lo mateix que s’ enlayran molt saben bé, que ‘l mon es molt gran… molt ample…
P. del O.