Archivo de Guatemala
Music from the Guatemala Cathedral Archive
El Mundo/Richard Salvino
rec. 15-17 August 2018, Skywalker Ranch, Nicasio, USA
Texts and
translations included
NAXOS 8.574295 [74:03]
There are old cities in Latin America, such as Lima, Mexico City or Guatemala City, that have a large musical inheritance lying unknown in their vaults and on the highest shelves of their libraries – just like those on the Iberian Peninsula, a couple of which I have had the privilege of seeing. Such forgotten manuscripts contain pieces by composers waiting to be re-incarnated in our own times. Over the past decade, some have proved to be a revelation.
This disc opens a window on two masters, Rafael Antonio Castellanos and Sebastian Durón. When this style of sacred music was first revealed about twelve years ago by the likes of the Birmingham-based Ex Cathedra, one was almost shocked and certainly excited by the rare mixture of the Baroque with a folksy-castanet-rhythmic dance music. One does not immediately associate it with the 18th Century church. Many discs have emerged since, but the delight and fascination has remained.
Castellanos lived and worked in Guatemala, as did his predecessor and uncle Manuel Joseph de Quiros. European composers are also represented in these manuscript collections, for example the guitar master Gaspar Sanz who had studied in another Spanish dependency, namely Southern Italy, or Arcangelo Corelli, a leading Baroque composer whose work is found in Latin America. Both are represented on the disc, Sanz by an attractive Folias, possibly of Spanish origin, and Corelli by a lyrical Sonata.
The texts are quite unlike what one hears in a standard European motet of the period. They have been sometimes translated unidiomatically, but its possible to judge their gist. Two pieces are all about defying the devil, for example “I would like to scoff (sic) the devil” (Al demoni); others are suitable for Christmas. Here are especially attractive pieces: “Little gypsies come to adore the child” (Gitanillas vienen) and Convidando está la noche by Zéspedes, already recorded several times, with its memorable repeated shouts of ‘ay’.
Some of the pieces are for chorus, others are duets or solo cantatas on a small scale. They are replete with recitatives and arias such as Cantada al Santisimo by Torres with its virtuoso violin part, and a fine work by Durón Ay de mi (curiously translated as “Woe is me, that crying and sadness/No, it does not soften my hardness”).
In some pieces one may feel close to Spanish theatre music, the zarzuela. In fact, the form was co-opted into the sacred theatre, as it were, in the form of a Xacara; consider Durón’s Vaya pues rompiendo which begins “Go, dance the Xacara friends”.
The four voices of El Mundo mostly capture the mood and atmosphere very convincingly, although I have heard this repertoire attract one’s attention even more strongly. As an ensemble, they are mostly dynamic and well balanced. I am less convinced by the solo work. There also is a string group and percussion. Very often, and very attractively, the accompaniment is supplemented by varied instruments, which make up an extended continuo section. It is guitar-based and includes a harp, a theorbo and a harpsichord. The whole has been shepherded and arranged by Richard Salvino whose work may well be known to many through his Grammy Award nomination and his outstanding Boccherini recordings. The instrumental work is of the highest quality, be it as an ensemble or in the solo sonatas.
The recording is clear and immediate. The booklet comes with Salvino’s reasonably detailed essay, other good documentation and colour photos. If you are new to the repertoire, it is a good place to start your discoveries, especially at the budget price.
Gary Higginson
Contents
Pastoras alegres [3.10]
Rafael Antonio CASTELLANOS (c.1725–1791)
Gitanilles vienen [4.04]
Gaspar SANZ (1640-1710)
Folias [3.01]
CASTELLANOS
Angeles del cielo [3.41]
Anonymous, 18th century Mexico
Violin Sonatas 26-27 [3.59]
CASTELLANOS
Al demonio- Si perfecciona el Altisimo [5.17]
Sebastián DURÓN (1660-1716)
Ay de mi, que el llanto y la tristez [4.27]
CASTELLANOS
Vaya do jacara amigos [4.09]
Arcangelo CORELLI (1653-1713)
Sonata da camera in G major Op 2 No 12 [3.42]
DURON
Vaya pues rompiendo el ayre [5.04]
Joseph de TORRES (c.1670-1738)
Cantada et Santisimo: Sosiega tu quebranto [9.48]
Manuel Joseph de QUIROS (?-1765)
Clarines suaves [4.29]
Juan Antonio VARGAS Y GUZMAN (fl.c.1700)
Guitar Sonata No 8 in B minor [2.12]
GUZMAN
Guitar Sonata No 9 in D major [2.42]
De QUIROS
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus y lo que subes [5.38]
CASTELLANOS
Negros de Guarangana [3.27]
Juan GARCIA DE ZÉSPEDES (1619-1678)
Convidando está la noche [3.53]
