Paying homage to this notable musician, born in Samões, Vila Flor, Organum presents the Academia Júlia d'Almendra. It comprises a series of events for the general public, as well as organ students, including concerts, masterclasses, workshops, and conferences. This course will take place between the 4 th and the 9 th of August 2025. Although the centre of its activities is in Vila Flor, we’ll explore other places, such as São João da Pesqueira (Santa Casa da Misericórdia Chapel) and Vila Real (Cathedral).

In the 2025 edition, the masterclasses will be led by António Mota and André Ferreira, and there’ll be a conference about the influence of secular language in the religious context between the 18 th and 19 th centuries, as well as the presentation of the book “Improvising at the Organ during Mass: A systematic approach to the Introit and Alleluia”. There will be performances from teachers and students of the Academiae, as well as the Voces Verbi Choir. Besides from the educational activities, students will also have the opportunity to take a guided tour of Vila Flor.

II Academia Júlia d'Almendra - Português

5 th and 6 th of August

Nossa Senhora da Assunção Sanctuary
Vila Real Catedral

The Romantic organ defined an era of great splendour and innovation in this instrument’s repertoire during the 19 th century. With the growth of its expressive qualities, the organ became a versatile instrument, capable of transmitting both symphonic grandeur and intimate subtlety. Developments in the playing technique, as well as the evolution of organ-building, have allowed further timbral exploration and a greater variety of dynamics. However, there’s a more subtle yet frequently ignored side to this story: repertoire made for smaller organs, which was also essential for the development of Romantic music.

Composers such as Alexandre Pierre-François Boëly, César Franck, Charles-Marie Widor, Alexandre Guilmant, Charles Tournemire, Louis Vierne, Marcel Dupré, Jean Langlais, Jehan Alain and Olivier Messiaen were fundamental in the expansion of this repertoire, taking advantage of the organological innovations of the time.

In the German school, composers such as Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, Josef Rheinberger, Max Reger and Sigfrid Karg-Elert developed a repertoire that combined Baroque tradition and Romantic innovations. Their works, written for big symphonic organs as well as for smaller instruments, have increased the organ’s range of expressiveness, ensuring its relevance in both religious services and concert performances.

In this masterclass, we’ll explore the differences between pieces and ways of playing the organ in the French and German repertoires. We’ll analyse how, in spite of stylistic and technical differences, both traditions contributed significantly to the evolution of the Romantic organ and its expressiveness, making a lasting impression in the European organ repertoire.

Recommended French composers:

Alexandre Pierre-François Boëly
César Franck
Charles Marie-Widor
Alexandre Guilmant
Charles Tournemire
Louis Vierne
Marcel Dupré
Jean Langlais
Jehan Alain
Olivier Messiaen

Recommended german composers:

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Franz Liszt
Johannes Brahms
Josef Rheinberger
Max Reger
Sigfrid Karg-Elert

Other composers with pieces written specifically for the Romantic/symphonic organ or for the harmonium.

7 th and 8 th of August

São João da Pesqueira (Santa Casa da Misericórdia Chapel)

Nossa Senhora da Assunção Sanctuary

Organ music in Portugal and Germany during the Renaissance and Baroque periods unveils a profound dialogue between different cultural traditions, which were united by a common spiritual essence. Portugal developed a musical language that was rich in ornamentation and rhythmic colour; Germany, on the other hand, found its expression in the harmonic solidity and deep spirituality of Lutheranism. Despite the differences, organ music from both countries was able to transcend borders.

This confluence is visible in the presence of manuscripts by German composers, such as Dietrich Buxtehude, in Portuguese archives, as well as in the mutual assimilation of styles and structure. Although Portuguese and German organs are quite different, both have served to express a shared spirituality, which surpasses technical specificities. Works by composers such as Carreira, Araújo, Bach, and Pachelbel illustrate how these cultures communicate through sound.

Studying organ music in Portugal and Germany provokes reflection about the universality of art, which overcomes distinct manifestations to meet in its essence. Through music, these traditions find a point of intersection where differences become complementary and the organ, with its range of timbres, turns into a symbol of a spiritual union that still resonates today.

Recommended Portuguese composers:

António Carreira
Carlos Seixas
Manuel Rodrigues Coelho
Pedro de Araújo
Organ colection "Obras Seletas para Órgão MS 964 da Biblioteca Pública de Braga"
Works from "Livro de obras de orgão juntas pella coriosidade do P. P. Fr. Roque da Cõceição"

Recommended German/Dutch composers:

- Johann Jakob Froberger
- Heinrich Scheidemann
- Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
- Dietrich Buxtehude
- Johann Pachelbel
- Georg Böhm
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Vincent Lübeck

Ana Magdalena Bach

Pieces written for keyboard, or keyboard and pedal, by Portuguese and German composers from the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

5 th of August

Nossa Senhora da Assunção Sanctuary

The book “Improvising at the Organ during Mass: A systematic approach to the Introit and Alleluia”, by Professor António Mota, is aimed at intermediate and advanced organists. This work presents structured improvisational models, accompanied by practical examples and suggestions of introductions to the Introit Chant and the Alleluia. Although its focus is the liturgical context, it’s not restricted to any specific tradition.

The presentation of this book will comprise a lecture and a workshop, with practical demonstrations of the suggested models. Although it’s open to the general public, this activity is aimed mostly at Júlia d’Almendra Academiae students.

António Mota holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organ by the Escola Superior de Música of Lisbon, and a PhD in Music by the University of Aveiro, where he teaches Organ, as well as other related courses. He’s an active performer in both concert and liturgical contexts, and has published pieces and arrangements for organ of both historical and contemporary repertoire.

8 th of August

Centro Cultural de Vila Flor – Small Auditorium

This conference will explore how opera came to influence and transform sacred music between the 18 th and 19 th centuries, by introducing dramatic elements and ornamentation which defied liturgical conventions. Accounts of that period will be the starting point to analysing the reactions to the music heard in churches, and the way in which these changes sparked controversy in the sacred space.

By reflecting upon contemporary dilemmas, this presentation explores the tensions between tradition and innovation in religious music, and strikes dialogue between past and present in the process of understanding this musical heritage.

Form Bach to Messiaen

August 4th I 6:30pm
Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Assunção de Vilas Boas - Cripta

António Mota

Portuguese and German Music for Historical Organ

August 6th I 9:00pm
Capela da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de S. João da Pesqueira

André Ferreira

Júlia d'Almendra Academy

August 9th I 4.00pm
Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Assunção de Vilas Boas - Cripta

Students of the Júlia d'Almendra Academy

In Luminé

Mary in the Heart of the Eucharist

August 10th I 4:00pm
Igreja Matriz de Vila Flor

Coro: Voces Verbi
Direção: Rodrigo Oliveira

Vilas Boas

Walker's Organ - Nossa Senhora da Assunção Sanctuary

S. João da Pesqueira

Sá Couto's Organ - São João da Pesqueira (Santa Casa da Misericórdia Chapel)

Vila Real

Mascioni's Organ - Vila Real Cathedral

The Júlia d'Almendra Academiae offers three types of attendance for organists:

Active Junior Participant (ages 13 to 15 years old, limit of 6 participants): 30€
Active Youth/Adult Participant (over 15 years old, limit of 12 participants): 50€
Passive Participant (over 15 years old, no limit of participants): 35€

The Júlia d'Almendra Academiae consists of approximately 35 hours as a Passive or Youth/Adult Active Participant, and 20 hours as a Junior Active Participant.

Associação Organum may provide some of the scores addressed in the course to those who request them beforehand.

Arrival at the Academy (Transport)

GPS Coordinates

Vila Flor: 41.30917° N, 7.15389° W

Vilas Boas: 41.34697° N, 7.19446° W

Public Transport

Nearest airport: OPO (Porto Airport)
Destination: Vila Flor

Rede Expressos buses to Vila Flor are available from the following cities : Porto (Campanhã), Lisboa (Sete Rios or Oriente), Coimbra, Fátima, Viseu, Braga, Vila Real, Caldas da Rainha (one-way only), Leiria (return only).
By train (CP) and bus (Rede Expressos)
Take a CP (Comboios Portugal) train to Porto-Campanhã
Then, take a Rede Expressos bus from Porto (Campanhã) to Vila Flor

De Vila Flor para Vilas Boas:

Local bus: A linha C-6000
Taxi: Taxi services are available for this route

Organizational Support

If you need help planning your trip or would like information about local taxi services, the course organization is available to assist you.

Lodging and meals

Both lodging and meals are a sole expense of the student. When requested, the Association may provide information about the lodging options or private hosts in Vila Flor and Vilas Boas.

Registration

Registration deadline: 15 th of July 2025

Fill in the Registration Form here or in the following link: https://forms.gle/78EeejFzdmfjgh8r9

Underage students must submit signed authorization forms when registering through the online form—one granting permission to participate in the activities and another for emergency medical care. You can find the required document templates here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1j9FrMhdvts3GHmXfYAwnA0YWkq0F9f6O?usp=sharing

In order to validate each registration, the fee must be paid via bank transfer to the following account:

Associação Organum
IBAN PT50 0045 1427 4037 2120 0336 3
Banco Crédito Agrícola

Proof of payment should be sent to aorganum@gmail.com , with the student’s name included in the subject line or body of the message.

5 th and 6 th of August

Nossa Senhora da Assunção SanctuaryVila Real Catedral

7 th and 8 th of August

São João da Pesqueira (Santa Casa da Misericórdia Chapel)

Nossa Senhora da Assunção Sanctuary

5 th of August

Nossa Senhora da Assunção Sanctuary

8 th of August

Centro Cultural de Vila Flor – Small Auditorium

Form Bach to Messiaen

August 4th I 6:30pmSantuário de Nossa Senhora da Assunção de Vilas Boas - Cripta

Portuguese and German Music for Historical Organ

August 6th I 9:00pmCapela da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de S. João da Pesqueira

Júlia d'Almendra Academy

August 9th I 4.00pmSantuário de Nossa Senhora da Assunção de Vilas Boas - Cripta

In Luminé

Mary in the Heart of the Eucharist

August 10th I 4:00pmIgreja Matriz de Vila Flor

Vilas Boas

S. João da Pesqueira

Vila Real

Arrival at the Academy (Transport)

Organizational Support

Lodging and meals

Registration

Nossa Senhora da Assunção Sanctuary
Vila Real Catedral

August 4th I 6:30pm
Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Assunção de Vilas Boas - Cripta

August 6th I 9:00pm
Capela da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de S. João da Pesqueira

August 9th I 4.00pm
Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Assunção de Vilas Boas - Cripta

August 10th I 4:00pm
Igreja Matriz de Vila Flor