Rockport Chamber Music Festival
Friday, July 8, 8 PM
HESPERION XXI
& TEMBEMBE ENSAMBLE CONTINUO
Folias, Antiguas and Criollas: From the Ancient to the New World
Hesperion XXI with Jordi Savall
The universally celebrated Jordi Savall and Hespèrion XXI combine forces with the Mexican folklore ensemble Tembembe Ensamble Continuo to offer an intoxicating program of music inspired by the “discovery” of the New World. This concert explores the connections and interactions among disparate musical traditions ranging from the colonials to the creole, African to indigenous with works by Diego Ortiz and Pedro Guerrero, as well as colonial and folk music from across South America.
For more than thirty years, Jordi Savall has devoted his career to the rediscovery of neglected musical treasures through years of research, study and interpretation, both as a violist and musical director. He has restored an essential repertoire to all those with ears to hear it. Beyond the happy few who already revered the instrument, he has created a wide audience for the viola da gamba. Together with Montserrat Figueras, he has founded three ensembles—Hespèrion XX, La Capella Reial, and Le Concert des Nations; together, they explore and create a world of beauty and emotion which reaches out to millions of music-lovers world-wide and has established them as the leading exponents of so many neglected musical gems.
His career as a concert performer, teacher, and researcher make him one of the principal architects of the current revaluation of historical music. The pivotal part he played in Alain Corneau’s film Tous les Matins du Monde (All the Mornings of the World), which won a César award for best soundtrack, his intense concert activity of 140 concerts per year, recording projects, and the creation of his own record label, Alia Vox, are all proof that early music appeals to an increasingly growing audience.
After studying the cello at the Barcelona Conservatoire, he began to teach himself the viola da gamba and study ancient music (Ars Musicae). Then, he began his specialist musical training at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland, where he continues to give courses and master classes. He has recorded over 160 CD’s and received numerous awards and distinctions, including “Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” from the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, “Musician of the Year” awarded by Le Monde de la Musique, “Soloist of the Year” awarded by Victoires de la Musique, the “Gold Medal for Fine Arts” from the Spanish Ministry of Culture and the Arts, to name just a few.
Hespèrion XXI
An internationally-recognized early music ensemble, Hespèrion XXI was formed in Switzerland in 1974 by Jordi Savall and his (now-late) wife Montserrat Figueras. Today, the group includes Xavier Díaz-Latorre (theorbo, guitar), David Mayoral (percussion) and Jordi Savall (Treble viol and 7 Strings Nass viol). The group’s name is derived from Classical Greek word which referred to the people of the Italian and Iberian peninsulas. Noted for its scholarship in early music, especially the music of 16th and 17th century Spain, the ensemble’s performance practice includes liberal use of improvisation.
Tembembe Ensamble Continuo
Tembembe Ensamble Continuo explores the similarities between the instruments and the practices of each of these traditions, presenting all aspects of performance including music, song, and dance that bring alive the festive spirits of both the Hispanic fandango of the 17th century and contemporary traditional fandango. The founding members of Tembembe—Enrique Barona, Eloy Cruz, and Leopoldo Novoa—are all graduates of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and currently teach there, as well as at the Centro Ollin Yoliztli (Mexico City). They most recently performed alongside Jordi Savall at the 2015 Boston Early Music Festival.
PROGRAM
DIEGO ORTIZ: La Spagna
ANONYMOUS (CMP 121):Folias antiguas (improvisation)
ANONYMOUS: Folias antiguas “Rodrigo Martinez” (improvisation)
GASPAR SANZ/Son from Tixtla: Jácaras/La Petenera
DIEGO ORTIZ: Folia IV – Passamezzo antico I – Passamezzo moderno III – Ruggiero Romanesca VII – Passamezzo moderno II
PEDRO GUERRERO: Moresca
Anonymous: Greensleeves to a Group
JUAN GARCÍA DE ZÉSPEDES/Traditional from Tixtla & improvisations: Guaracha
Celtic Traditions in the New World
Regents Rant Traditional Scottish
Lord Moira Traditional Scottish
Lord Moira’s Hornpipe Ryan’s Collection (Boston)
CODEX”Trujillo del Peru, Lima: Tonada “El Huicho” de Chachapoyas, Cochua Serranita, “Nombrada el Huicho nuebo”
ANTONIO MARTÍN Y COLL (& improvisations): Diferencias sobre las Folias
FRANCISCO CORREA DE ARAUXO: Glosas sobre “Todo el mundo en general”
ANONYMOUS: Improvisations on the Canarios
ANTONIO VALENTE / improvisations: Gallarda Napolitana – Jarabe Loco (Jarocho)
This concert is supported by the Departament de Cultura of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Institut Ramon Llull and the Programa México en Escena del Fondo para la Cultura y las Artes de CONACULTA – MÉXICO.
Tickets: $79, $72, $55 (fees may apply)
