Archivo de Guatemala: Music from the Guatemala City Cathedral Archive

Featuring

Jennifer Ellis Kampani
Nell Snaidas
Ryland Angel
Richard Savino
Cheryl Ann Fulton
Adam LaMotte

Paul Shipper
William Skeen
El Mundo
Rafael Antonio Castellanos
Gaspar Sanz
Anonymous
Sebastian Durón
Arcangelo Corelli
José de Torres
Manuel José de Quirós
Juan Antonio de Vargas y Guzman
Juan García de Zéspedes

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Performer Biography

El Mundo, directed by Richard Savino, is a chamber group dedicated to performing 16th- to 19th-century Latin American, Spanish, and Italian chamber music, and was nominated for a GRAMMY Award in 2012.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Latin American composers like Manuel Joseph de Quiros and Rafael Antonio Castellanos incorporated dance music, particularly the xácara, into their sacred compositions.

Cultural Impact

Arcangelo Corelli, an Italian composer, greatly influenced Spain and Latin America, with his string music circulating widely and being transcribed for guitar by figures like Santiago de Murcia.

Compositional Technique

The musical style that emerged in Latin America during the Baroque period bore the imprint of folk music, even in sacred compositions, using diverse instruments and dance rhythms.

Historical Context

The Guatemala City Cathedral archive contains hundreds of high-quality musical compositions by both Spanish and native composers, reflecting a sophisticated musical culture.

Instruments

The guitar was considered the quintessential 'Spanish' instrument in both folk and fine art music, and its importance is reflected in the Guatemala archive's holdings of guitar intabulations.

Historical Context

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Spanish colonies in Central and South America were vibrant centers of cultural activity, with indigenous populations participating in the arts.