Valencia during Cabanilles' time was experiencing a recovery after a period of plague, expulsion of the Moors, and economic crises, with the Church playing a predominant role.
Compositional Technique
Cabanilles' music often features 'partido' works, which are written for two simultaneous, contrasting registrations, taking advantage of double-manual Valencian organs.
Instruments
The organ of the Church of Sant Jaume in Vila-real, used for tracks 1-20, is a precious survival from 1724, though most of its original pipework was melted down during the Spanish Civil War.
Composer Biography
Joan Cabanilles, the composer, was baptized in Algemesí near Valencia in 1644 and became second organist of Valencia Cathedral in 1665, quickly rising to first organist.
Interpretation
The extant manuscripts of Cabanilles' music often contain errors and require detective work and reconstruction, as they are effectively mutilated versions of lost originals.
Composer Biography
Cabanilles lived an apparently undramatic but prosperous life in Valencia, becoming wealthy through prudent property purchases and receiving salary raises for his extraordinary talents.
Recording & Production
Some pieces on this album are first recordings or new reconstructions, indicating an effort to bring previously unheard or re-imagined versions of Cabanilles' works to light.
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