Dominican friar, musician and architect of the “revival” of the Sylvanès abbey, André Gouzes has died

Promu au grade de chevalier de la Légion d'honneur en 2006, André Gouzes est décédé à l'âge de 81 ans. Archives – SYLVIE CAMBON

Auteur de la Liturgie chorale du peuple de Dieu, le frère dominicain André Gouzes est décédé à l’âge de 81 ans. 

Its name is inseparably linked to that of the abbey of Sylvanès. Dominican friar, musician, author of the Choral Liturgy of the People of God, André Gouzes died at the age of 81.

Decorated with the Legion of Honor in 2006 for his entire musical work, the Aveyron monk is the one who contributed to the “revival” of the Sylvanès Abbey by associating his nascent work with the image of the Cistercian abbey dating from the 12th century.

Jewel of Cistercian art

Listed as a historical monument in 1854, the abbey was bought by the town of Sylvanès in 1970. In 1975, André Gouzes, a young Dominican brother born in the region, decided with the current director Michel Wolkowitsky, then a student at the Toulouse Conservatory, to breathe new life into this monastic complex weakened by years of neglect. They were at the origin of the creation, the following year, of the association of Friends of the Abbey of Sylvanès which brings together many members in France and abroad.

The structure will support the small town of Sylvanès in the major restoration work and will develop a cultural project around sacred and liturgical song. A jewel of Cistercian art, the abbey church has one of the largest Romanesque naves in France and hosts the Festival of Sacred Music, which is celebrating its 47th edition this year.

Report to the courts

Famous in Catholic circles, André Gouzes had been the subject of a report to the courts for alleged rape of a minor according to information revealed by La Croix, May 6, 2021. Acts that were allegedly committed at the end of the 2000s, on a young boy now aged 24. "An investigation is underway following the report made by the Dominicans in the fall of 2021," had confirmed the public prosecutor of Rodez regarding a case followed by the Montpellier investigation unit. 

Since that date, whether or not to play Gouzes' works has remained a dilemma for many parishes. "Respect for victims “The impossibility: hearing “du Gouzes” sung in an assembly is for them [the victims, editor's note] and their family of an unheard-of violence, and therefore for us too. We owe it to them to modify our repertoire” , explained on the subject François Moog, professor of theology at the Catholic Institute of Paris, and today rector of the Catholic Institute of Toulouse.