Et Jesum presents motets, antiphons, and mass sections by the Spanish Renaissance composer Tomás Luis de Victoria, arranged for countertenor voice and accompanying stringed instrument. Both the laud (the Spanish version of the lute) and the more guitar-like vihuela are used by accompanist Juan Carlos Rivera. Rivera and countertenor Carlos Mena, a youthful alumnus of the Savall school, augment arrangements of Victoria's day with efforts of their own in a similar vein, and it would take a deep specialist indeed to pick out the 400-year-old ones.
The Baltimore Consort used to do programs similar to this one, but The Harp Consort takes the production values and vocal artistry to an even higher level. From the opening, a highly rhythmic, sensuously melodic traditional Breton number, you're drawn into a world of earthy, folk-based music that's filled out with the colors of period instruments and brought to life by the expressive voices of singers who allow the flow and pulse of the language to shape phrases and create natural accents and inflection. The result is affecting, engrossing performances that convey what we can only surmise is a reasonably accurate realization of these ancient and justifiably enduring tunes.
L'Arpeggiata's previous recordings have blended popular or folk-inspired elements with music of the Baroque in striking and imaginative ways. 'All'Improviso' takes this melting-pot approach even further, combining the Baroque ostinato bass with improvisatory techniques from both the historically aware stream of 21st-century music-making and of jazz through the participation of the clarinettist Gianluigi Trovesi.
Serenata Española features the unique collaboration between Xavier de Maistre and Flamenco legend & castanets soloist Lucero Tena. Xavier and Lucero were introduced to each other by conductor Jesús López Cobos. Xavier de Maistre fell in love with Lucero' story and personality. Shortly after, they decided to record a repertoire they had in common: Spanish Music. The album features compositions by Albeniz, Granados, Tarrega and de Falla, arranged for harp and castanets.
Mägo de Oz es una banda española de folk metal fundada el 7 de julio de 1988 por el baterista Txus di Fellatio en el barrio de Begoña en Madrid. Inicialmente se llamó Transilvania, en honor a la canción homónima del sexteto inglés Iron Maiden, y adoptó el nombre definitivo de Mägo de Oz en 1989.1