Composer: Santiago Billoni, Jose Herrando, Luis Mison
Performer: Camerata Antonio Soler
Conductor: Javier José Mendoza
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Orchid
Catalogue: ORC100208
Release: 2022
Size: 1.2 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Pérez: Sinfonia in D Major “La tempestad del mar”
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Arco iris
03. III. Bailete
04. Jerusalem: Si aleve fortuna
Mison: Sinfonia in B-Flat Major
05. I. Allegro
06. II. Andante
07. III. Presto
08. Billoni: Por que Pedro?
09. Jerusalem: Qué dolor, qué desconsuelo
Herrando: Sinfonia in D Major
10. I. Allegro
11. II. Andante
12. III. Allegro
13. Jerusalem: Sube a gozar
14. Salas y Castro: El cielo y sus estrellas
Camerata Antonio Soler and its conductor Javier José Mendoza draw us into the heady world of 18th-century music from “New Spain” – which encompassed parts of the Spanish Empire including present-day Mexico and Cuba. This elegant “galant” repertoire includes non-liturgical Christian works performed by the cathedral choirs of the time, written by composers including Davide Perez, Luis Misón and José Herrando, all of whom made their careers on the Iberian peninsula. We also hear from two Italians who served as chapel masters in present-day Mexico: Santiago Billoni and Ignacio Jerusalem.
The cultural and ceremonial life of New Spain is vividly evoked by these works, which, though devotional, show the influence of the dramatic theatrical and secular music of the time. The album also features three secular sinfonías from the Iberian peninsula, written in the tradition of the Italian opera overture.
For some years, I have been performing and recording eighteenth-century galant music from the viceroyalty of New Spain. This latest album with the Camerata Antonio Soler presents a sample of the instrumental soundscape, along with vocal works set to Spanish paraliturgical texts that were all performed in New Spain. Although some of the works included here were not written in the New World, every piece presented on this album is conserved in present-day Mexico and Cuba – they were undoubtedly a part of cathedral musical life. We have included works by Davide Perez, Luis Misón, and José Herrando; each having made their careers on the Iberian Penninsula. Also included are two Italians who served as chapel masters in present-day Mexico. Santiago Billoni and Ignacio Jerusalem worked in Durango and Mexico City respectively. Finally, Esteban Salas was born in La Habana, Cuba and worked at Santiago Cathedral.
In this album, the listener will find a snapshot of the rich artistic history and ceremonial life of New Spain. The texts dedicated to Mary and the birth of Christ paint fantastic pictures about pain, suffering, joy, and ecstasy. The range of emotions of these devotional works draw from the dramatic aesthetic of theatre works and secular music of the time: indeed, we have included three symphonies (or sinfonías) from the Iberian peninsula written in the tradition of the Italian opera overture. Together these works form a fine example of the musical activities of the cathedrals of New Spain. – Javier José Mendoza