Bolivian Baroque: Music from the Missions and La Plata, Vol. 3 – James Johnstone, organ/ Florilegium/ Arakaendar Bolivia Choir/ Ashley Solomon, director – Channel Classics Multichannel SACD 28009, 60:00 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] ****:
This is the third volume of Florilegium’s excursion to the depths of Bolivian mission practice, and this time they even went to an old mission (Santa Ana) in the heart of the rain forest to record an organ built in 1767 and recently restored in 2000.
The music is a curious mixture of solemn liturgical structures, folk religious songs and genuine baroque sonatas. Much of it is focused on the compositions of Jesuit composer Domenico Zipoli, who made a trip to South America. Other pieces, anonymous, have an entirely different character about them, a joyous verve despite the rather serious theological underpinnings of the sometimes humorous texts.
All forces here are equally attuned to the spirit of the music, especially the marvelous Arakaendar Bolivia Choir, and Channel’s sound is vivid and enveloping. Tom Gibbs liked Volume 1 back in 2005 though we seemed to have missed Volume 2. Heartily recommended as a nice change of pace to any baroque collection of sacred—and sometimes borderline sacred—music.
TrackList:
Domenico Zipoli – Toccata in d minor
Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco – Missa Octavo Tono
Anon – Sonata “Chiquitana” No.IV AMCh 264 (So 18)
Allegro, Andante, Minuete
Domenico Zipoli – All’Offertorio
Roque Jacinto de Chavarría – Fuera, Fuera! Haganles lugar!
Anon – Siempre Piano from Sonata XIV in G major
Domenico Zipoli – Canzona in g minor
Juan de Araujo – Al Llanto mas tierno
Anon – Aires me hielan al Niño
Diego Casseda – Silencio, no chiste el aire
Anon – Sonata AMCh 399 in a minor
Juan de Araujo – Oh que bien se suspenden los Cielos
Sebastián Duron – Al compás airecillos
Anon – Salve a 8
Encore: Anon Naranjitay – Huaiño (Traditional folk tune) arranged by Luis Craff
— Steven Ritter
