Musica Ficta

Hispaniarum Rex Catholicus: Music for His Catholic Majesty

Presented in partnership with the Honorary Consulate of Spain and St. James Cathedral

Saturday, October 13, 2012, 8:00 p.m.
St. James Cathedral

Preconcert lecture by Gary Cannon, 6:45 pm
Skyline at First Hill, 725 9th Avenue, Seattle

Musica Ficta from Valencia, Spain, makes its US debut in Seattle’s historic and majestic St. James Cathedral. This program for 8 voices and brass features works by Cristóbal de Morales, Tomás Luis de Victoria, and Alonzo Lobo. These composers served the courts of Felipe II and Felipe III of Spain and their works were performed in Seville, at the Sistine Chapel, and in the Viceregal outposts in the Americas. Musica Ficta has performed in major music festivals, such as Quincena Musical Donostiarra, Siglos de Oro, Festival de Úbeda y Baeza, Camino de Santiago, Festival de Otoño, and has presented concerts in Italy, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Norway, Greece and Japan.

“Musica Ficta voices this profound music with earthy intensity.” -Billboard

Read the Program Notes here.

Program

Located in an era of conquers and economical and political expansion, the arts that decked the Spain of Felipe II and Felipe III showed the world lights and shadows of an Empire where the Sun never went down. From Naples to Peru, from the Philippines to Mexico, the 16th century Spanish artists helped create the Golden Century. The period actually lasted close to two-hundred years.

Not by chance, the best Spanish composers belong to this period, and most of them worked for the Catholic Monarchy. Cristóbal de Morales of the School of Sevilla was a singer at the Sistine Chapel and master of masters. Alonso Lobo was the last representative of the pure Renaissance style and his works were the most performed in the chapels of the Viceregal America. Finally, the great Tomás Luis de Victoria, collector of the best Spanish music talent, combined impeccable technique with the most devoted musicians for sacred music.

Programa

Enmarcada en una edad de conquistas y expansión económica y política, las Artes que engalanaron la España de Felipe II y Felipe III, mostraron al mundo las luces y sombras de un Imperio en el que no se ponía el Sol. Desde Nápoles a Perú, desde Filipinas a México, los artistas españoles de los márgenes de 1600 fueron responsables del apelativo de Siglo de Oro para un período que, en realidad, tuvo casi dos centurias de duración.

No casualmente, los mejores compositores españoles pertenecen a este periodo, y la mayoría de ellos trabajaron, de un modo u otro, para la Monarquía Católica por excelencia. De la escuela sevillana, Cristóbal de Morales, cantor de la Capilla Sixtina y maestro de maestros. Alonso Lobo, último representante del estilo renacentista puro y al autor más veces interpretado en las capillas de América Virreinal.

Y, por último, el gran Tomás Luis de Victoria, resumen del mejor talento musical español, por aunar una técnica impecable con la más comprometida humanidad destilada en el canto espiritual de la música sacra.
 

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