The MatV Fonds, conserved in the Museum–Archive of Santa Maria of Mataró, is primarily comprised of the ecclesiastic repertoire written and performed by this composer between 1885 and 1927, the period when he served as the chapel master of the Santa Maria chapel in Mataró. The fonds contains 163 music compositions, 131 of which belong to the “authored manuscripts” collection, 27 to “anonymous manuscripts” and to the “printed items” collection. The fonds is conserved in 6 archival boxes.

The composer belonged to a family of former artisans and fishermen from Mataró. He must have started his musical training in the children’s choir of Santa Maria during the early years when Manuel Blanch was the chapel master. He later went to the Municipal Music School of Mataró, directed by Jaume Isern (1798-1880), the parish organist. Viada furthered his studies of harmony, piano and organ with Isern. In 1983, Viada began to serve as Isern’s curate, until he became the interim organ master in 1877. However, the person to succeed Isern in 1880 was the presbyter from Vic, Salvador Puigsech, a music teacher at Col·legi Valldemia, who served as the chapel master from 1880 to 1884, when he left the position in Mataró for the same one in Igualada. Despite the fact that Puigsech had been appointed chapel master, Viada continued playing the organ in Mataró during the most solemn celebrations. Upon Puigsech’s departure in 1885, the town hall appointed Viada organist, a job he held until 1927.

Despite receiving offers for important and better-paid jobs, Viada preferred to remain at the organ in Mataró. His life was spent playing at all the city’s religious functions and teaching piano classes in different homes in the city. Viada was also a member of different chamber music ensembles, most notably the one with Gaspar Gual, Enric Constans and Teodor Solà. His fonds is primarily comprised of genres from the ecclesiastic repertoire from the late 19th century for a variety of vocal formats, accompanied by the harmonium, organ or piano, such as his Requiems from 1888 and 1892, and different drawing-room pieces, some of which were published by Iberia Musical and Manuel Tarafa. The printed edition of the MatV catalogue was issued in April 2010.¹

¹GREGORI I CIFRÉ, Josep Maria – CABOT I SAGRERA, Neus. Inventaris dels fons musicals de Catalunya. Volum 4: Fons del Museu-Arxiu de Santa Maria de Mataró. Barcelona: Generalitat de Catalunya. Departament de Cultura i Mitjans de Comunicació; Bellaterra: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2010.- Arxius i documents. Eines de recerca, núm. 7.

Fonds Factsheet

Acronym: MatV

IFMuC Link: https://ifmuc.uab.cat/collection/MatV?ln=en

Title: Lluís Viada i Castellà Fonds

Archive and location:
Museu-Arxiu de Santa Maria de Mataró (MASMM)
Carrer de Beata Maria, 3
08301 Mataró

Archive and library schedule:
Thursday and friday, from 6:00 p.m. a 8:30 p.m

Contact:
Email: masmm@masmm.org

Date(s): 18th to 19th centuries

Extent and medium: 6 box files

Creators:
Lluís Viada i Castellà

Download the complete fonds factsheet HERE

Entrance door to the Museu-Arxiu de Santa Maria de Mataró