Santiago de Murcia, an enigmatic guitarist, was born on July 25, 1673, in Madrid, where he was baptized in the church of San Sebastián.
Interpretation
The performer, Stefano Maiorana, aimed to balance philological rigor with personal creative choices in this recording, particularly in dance pieces where Santiago de Murcia's tablatures often allowed for modifications.
Compositional Technique
Santiago de Murcia's guitar transcriptions of Arcangelo Corelli's Opus 5, all included in this recording, demonstrate his effort to expand the guitar's expressive capabilities through a new musical language.
Historical Context
The influence of Italian music, particularly that of Arcangelo Corelli, a prominent Italian Baroque composer, was significant in Madrid during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Santiago de Murcia's music, as presented on this album, blends Spanish folk dances with Italian styles, including guitar transcriptions of violin or organ works and original arrangements of traditional themes.
Instruments
The baroque guitar used in this recording was made by Martin Haycock in 2015, modeled after instruments by Giorgio and Matteo Sellas from the early 17th century.
Composer Biography
From 1704 to 1706, Santiago de Murcia, the composer featured on this album, served as the guitar teacher for Queen Maria Luisa of Savoy, indicating his high reputation in Madrid.
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