Mallavibarrena

The works of Tomás Luis de Victoria are today an international paradigm of the Spanish Renaissance heritage. This master, born in Avila, rises like a standard-bearer from the huge spectrum of Spanish composers who carried the art of polyphony to its highest musical and liturgical significance.

Considered as one of the most important Spanish composers of his time, together with Victoria and Morales, Guerrero’s music has very rarely been recorded. This magnificent music comes now to the light in its full splendour and glory. This CD contains motets and hymns chosen primarily for their great interest and outstanding quality. The purity and the spirit of this music deserve to be discovered by the most exigent music lovers.

Cristóbal de Morales was the finest Spanish composer of the early 16th century (2000 marked the 500th anniversary of his birth ca. 1500, possibly in Seville). He was also one of the most important contributors to a repertoire of musical settings used in the liturgy for the dead. His five-voice Requiem (or Missa pro Defunctis, as it was originally called) was published in Rome in 1544 while he was a member of the Papal choir, and from there it became widely known across Europe. This overwhelming and impressive music was probably sung in 1599 in Mexico as part of the memorial ceremonies for Emperor Charles V (almost an exact contemporary of Morales), and then in 1598, in the context of a full Requiem Mass celebrated in the Cathedral of Toledo upon the death of Philip II.

Victoria is probably the best known Spanish composer of the Renaissance. His intense, emotional music, is considered the peak of the Golden Age of Spanish polyphony and his works are sung by every and all vocal ensemble worldwide. The perfection of his style and the serene and austere beauty of his output have made of Victoria a favourite among the music lover, who will possibly find it very interesting to have this masterpiece available, intensely sung by a Spanish chamber choir.