Duration: 3:32

Stella Splendens / Catalonia, Llibre Vermell de Montserrat, fol. 22r, s. XIV. Performed by Companyia Elèctrica Dharma from the album "Llibre Vermell" (2002). The "Llibre Vermell de Montserrat" (Catalan for "Red Book of Montserrat") is a collection of late medieval songs in Catalan and in Latin. The 14th century manuscript was located outside Barcelona at the monastery of Montserrat, perched up in the mountains of Catalonia. The title "Red Book of Montserrat" describes the red binding in which the collection was placed in the nineteenth century. The monastery holds the shrine of the Virgin of Montserrat, which was a major site of pilgrimage during the time it was compiled. "Montserrat" literally means "jagged (serrated) mountain" in Catalan. It describes the peculiar aspect of the rock formation, which is visible from a great distance. The mountain is composed of strikingly pink conglomerate, a form of sedimentary rock, popular with climbers. The Catalan poet, Mr. Joan Maragall said: "Montserrat is the miracle of Catalonia". In the time of Franco dictatorship, this sanctuary was the place where the Catalan people fought and resisted the repression of the dictatorship. Tradition says that the Mother of God appeared a long times ago in one of the peaks and at that moment, this consecrated mountain became an important place where millions of pilgrims go every year and it's also the Spiritual home of the Catalan nation. Stella splendens in monte Ut solis radium Miraculis serrato, Exaudi populum. Concurrunt universi Gaudentes Populi, Divites et egeni, Grandes et parvuli, Ipsum ingrediuntur, Ut cernunt oculi, Et inde revertuntur Graciis repleti. "Star shining on the mountain, as a ray of sunshine serrated miraculously, listen to your people. From all sides come together, your joyous pilgrims, rich and poor, large and small. In this same place come, to light their eyes and here again full of grace."