The madeiran sacred music of the 20^th century was influenced by the motu proprio "Tra le sollecitudini", a legal code with specific instructions on the functions of music within the Church activities.

In Madeira, this musical reform led to the prohibition of most of the music played in Madeira during the 19^th century churches, being created a Diocesan Commission for Sacred Music with the competence to examine the songs to be sung as well as the way to be performed; inspired the composition of original sacred music works and the recovery of Gregorian chant, which had been voted to abandon centuries before; elicited the formation and publication of new documents according to the new precepts emanating from the Vatican.

Among the main madeiran personalities involved in this reform of sacred music stand out the names of Monsignor Manuel Joaquim Paiva, Fr. José Bebiano da Paixão, the Canon Fernando Meneses Vaz, Fr. Sebastião Antero Gonçalves and Fr. Antonino César Gouveia Valente.

Paulo Esteireiro
New University of Lisbon
Artistic Education and Multimedia Services Directorate (Madeira)