Output details

CD recording of 'Bolivian Baroque – Music from the Missions and La Plata'

The historic event this recording presents took place in Jesuit missions, founded in the 17th and 18th centuries amongst indigenous peoples of South America. This is the third CD in my series begun in 2005, for Channel Classics.

For worship each mission collected music, including masses and motets as well as instrumental and keyboard compositions. A new musical style, so-called missional baroque, emerged through this encounter and intensive interaction between native and European religions and cultures. Missional baroque signifies both a quantity of works produced in the missions, but also works of originality and distinctiveness.

Within more than 7,000 musical documents held in the Archivo Misional of San Ignacio de Moxos a striking balance exists between the musical forms. The European origins of some of this music was less important to me as a performer than the way the Jesuits used its melodies and harmonies to direct the minds of the Indian musicians towards Christianity and God. This was the starting point for this programme, which incorporates music from both the missions of Chiquitos and Moxos and the Cathedral of La Plata.

This CD explores three new musical genres. It also promotes the polychoral works and solo organ repertoire from the Missions, as well as villancicos from La Plata which have never been performed outside Bolivia until now.

The last remaining original Blockwerk organ to have survived since the Jesuit period in Bolivia was in the Mission of Santa Ana de Chiquitos in the east of the country. Restored in 2000 this is the only available recording made on this remarkable instrument, its raw sound recorded for posterity.

The CD is distributed worldwide by the Dutch label Channel Classics and since its release in 2009 has received significant media attention. All works presented are world premieres.