Espanoletaby Anonymous

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June 01, 2003: This CD is Chatham Baroque’s continental counterpart to their earlier and equally enjoyable release, “Sol y Sombra: Baroque Music of Latin America”. The guest roster includes percussionist Danny Mallon, who provides spicy yet appropriate percussion, while Becky Baxter adds harp to the equation, an instrument highly favored by the Spaniards. Varying rhythms, Hispanic flourishes and the complimentary sounds of castanets and tambourine make this album a standout in the group’s repertoire, and downright fun to listen to. Having grown up with much more somber interpretations of Baroque music, I smile every time I hear “Espanoleta!”. Continuously. For 64 minutes and 17 seconds. (Hurts a little after a while, but it’s worth it.) This is probably my favorite release by Chatham Baroque, though it is difficult to choose between them--they are all wonderful! If you like this CD, you’ll also like “Sol y Sombra”, as well as two lively recordings by harpist Andrew Lawrence-King and his consort: “Spanish Dances: Selections from ‘Luz y Norte’ by Lucas Ruiz de Ribayaz--Madrid, 1677” and “Jacaras!: 18th Century Spanish Baroque Guitar Music of Santiago de Murcia”. Becky Baxter, guest harpist on “Espanoleta!”, has a solo release from Dorian called “O Lux Beata: Renaissance Harp Music”, which is also fun, showcasing a variety of different harps and harping styles with an assortment of guest accompanists.