Romero: Requiem para Cervantesby Anonymous

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August 09, 2007: The prolific early music consort La Grand Chapelle has recorded an impressive discography in recent years, including two Cervantes-related discs. "Music for Don Quixote" (2006) presented a reconstruction of the music that Don Quixote – and Cervantes himself – might have listened to. Equally impressive is "Requiem Para Cervantes," a collection of requiems composed by contemporaries of the legendary Spanish writer. Amazingly, Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare died on the exact same date: April 23, 1616. It was the end of a literary era at the same time, the Renaissance in music – which witnessed stunning advancements in the art of polyphonic composition – was giving way to the Baroque era. New musical genres like opera, oratorio, and concerto were evolving, and the "learned style" of Renaissance polyphony was largely consigned to the sacred milieu. The waning of this era still witnessed remarkable compositions, such as these requiems by Mateo Romero "c. 1575-1647", Pedro Ruimonte "1565-1627", and Sebastian Lopez de Velasco "1584-1659". These works, based on Gregorian chants from the "Office of the Dead," convey gravitas and a sense of repose appropriate for the Requiem Mass. Elements of the "parody mass" – where sections of plainchant are followed by polyphonic passages based on the chant – illustrate these composers' mastery of Renaissance forms. The employment of polychoral textures within certain Mass movements signals the early development of Baroque style. The singers of La Grand Chapelle, subtly accompanied by a small instrumental consort, deliver emotional performances that heighten the effect of the music. The recording embodies a rich, full sound. "Reqiuem Para Cervantes" not only commemorates the death of Cervantes, but the ending of a musical era as well. This disc would make a fine addition to any early music collection.