Throughout the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, as the new, centralized power of the absolute state was established in most European nations, royal courts all over Europe became the very heart of cultural and artistic life in their respective countries. They assembled an elite of aristocratic courtiers who were expected to master the principles of poetry, dance and vocal and instrumental music, as much as they were supposed to follow a strict and complex etiquette in all aspects of daily social interaction, adopt a luxurious and ever-changing fashion code, or sustain a refined conversation with a lady.
This disc consists of 22 landmark selections from Hesperion XX's various programs of music of the 12th to 14th centuries. Notable composers represented: Alfonso X El Sabio, Guillame Dufay, Eustache Du Caurroy, Orlando Lasso, Francisco Guerrero, Christopher Tye and Cristobal De Morales; several anonymous works included also.
When the marvelous artists such as composer Stavros Xarchakos, lyricist Nikos Gkatos and the one and only Giorgos Ntalaras join forces, the result can only be a masterpiece.
Antonio de Cabezón, “The Spanish Bach”, was among the most important composers of his time and the first major Iberian keyboard composer. Blind from childhood he was a musician at the court of Charles the V since 1526. HR Recordings is proud to present the complete recording of his keyboard music in several volumes performed by Javier Jiménez at some of the most beautiful Spanish historical organs.