Requiem para Cervantes
Requiem para Cervantes. Mateo Romero: Missa Pro Defunctis | LAU002
The celebration of the fourth centenary of the publication of Don Quixote in 2005 was the best occasion to pay tribute not only to the great genius of Spanish literature, Miguel de Cervantes, but also to other outstanding figures of art and culture of the Golden Age. Mateo Romero (ca. 1575-1647), master of the Royal Chapel between 1598-1633 –under the reigns of Philip III and Philip IV– was the main composer of the Spanish Court around 1616, the date of Cervantes' death.
The recovery of his Missa pro Defunctis for 8 voices has proven doubly interesting, since it constitutes the first recording of one of the most appreciated musical works of the early 17th century and also vindicates one of the great masters of the Spanish Baroque.
The so-called “Master Captain” excelled in polyphonic composition for two choirs (modern style), so in vogue in the main musical centres of Europe and particularly in the Basilica of San Marco in Venice. The Requiem for two choirs is one of Romero’s best works, of great solemnity and impeccable vocal workmanship.
The programme reconstructs –thanks to the collaboration of the musicologist and performer Juan Carlos Asensio– a mass for the dead of the period, with the characteristic alternation of polyphonic works and plainchant, the latter from the choir books of El Escorial from the beginning of the 17th century. It is completed with responses from the matins of the office of the dead, which at the time were sung during absolutions and the impressive psalm De profundis, which the clerics recited or chanted while the procession proceeded to the depositio or burial of the deceased. Some of the responsories are by another of Cervantes's contemporaries, Pedro Ruimonte (1565-1627) from Zaragoza, who was known for being none other than the chapel master of the governor of the Netherlands, Archduke Albert. His mournful works (in the Missae sex) were published in Antwerp in 1614.
The recording of the “Requiem for Cervantes” is, therefore, a sound document of the first importance, which recovers some of the most outstanding works of the musical heritage of the early 17th century and places them in their original liturgical context.
You can select to purchase our Booklet in PDF format, complete physical disc or digitally and songs individually.
Reviews
LAU002 | 5412690234354
June 2005
Digipack / 1 CD / 59:52
– “Laudas” à música antiga espanhola. Public. Thousand Folhas. Classical music, p. 22-23, Cristina Fernandes, 29/12/2006 [PDF]
– Romero, Requiem para Cervantes. Tijdschrift Oude Muziek, p. 88, agosto 2006 [PDF]
– Romero, Requiem para Cervantes. Goldberg Magazine, nº 38, p. 89, Craig Zeichner, febrero 2006 («Goldberg 5») [PDF]
– Romero, Requiem para Cervantes. Luister, febrero 2006 [JPG]
– Un réquiem para Cervantes. Scherzo Magazine, nº 203, p. 95, Pablo J. Vayón, diciembre 2005, [PDF]
– Réquiems españoles. El Mundo. El Cultural, Rafael Banús, 26/11/2005 [JPG]
– Romero, Requiem para Cervantes. La Libre Belgique, Martine Dumont-Mergeay, 23/11/2005
– Romero, Requiem para Cervantes. The Newspaper. Leisure Guide, Luis Polanco, 11/11/2005 [JPG]
– Romero, Requiem para Cervantes. Variaciones Goldberg, 01/11/2005 [JPG]
– Romero, Requiem para Cervantes. ABC. ABCD of the Arts, Álvaro Alonso, 01/10/2005 [JPG]
Review
[mostrar_pdf_acf pdf="1"]
[mostrar_pdf_acf pdf="2"]
[mostrar_pdf_acf pdf="3"]