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Label:
   Harmonia Mundi - http://www.harmoniamundi.com/
Serial:
   HMU807293
Title:
   Missa Mexicana - The Harp Consort
Description:
   "Missa Mexicana" Anonymous, Juan Bautista José Cabanilles, Joan Cererols, Francisco Escalada, Juan García de Zéspedes, Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla, Santiago de Murcia, Miguel Pérez de Zavala, Francisco de Vidales

The Harp Consort
Andrew Lawrence-King
Details:
  
Genre:
   Classical - Vocal
Content:
   Stereo/Multichannel
Media:
   Hybrid
Recording type:
  
Recording info:
  
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Reviews: 2
Site review by Polly Nomial April 23, 2006
Performance:  Sonics (S/MC): /
Following the same theme as Hyperion's Moon, sun & all things - Ex Cathedra, this disc takes the thought process a step further and alternates music that was "tolerated" and "official" music for the church in Mexico. The instrumentation and harmonic structure is more immediately recognisable as Andean in nature, even though the compositions are much more formal and relatively staid to the folk music that would have been sung & played at the time. Even so, this is very enjoyable indeed.

Included in the instrumentation are conch's, a bewildering array of guitars and some (very subtle, some might argue too subtle) percussion. The singers enter fully into the spirit of the music making evoked by the instrumentalists and conjure up a service that would make even the most po-faced, atheist smile with joy at such vivacious music making.

Throughout the recording is excellent, vividly capturing both voices and instruments alike. The MCH presentation is very well handled, with the rears providing just enough accoustic information to "round out" the aural picture. One wishes that one could be there to join in and dance away with the folk-inspired tracks...

(Purchased)

Copyright © 2006 John Broggio and SA-CD.net
Review by nickc March 24, 2004 (1 of 1 found this review helpful)
Performance:  Sonics:
magical disc featuring mexican and south american baroque and native music from the 16th. century. the sound of the baroque guitars strumming with harp gives this disc its special sound and yes, there is a conch shell being played on some tracks!
sound in multichannel is fantastic, rears just being used to expand the space way beyond what front speakers could ever do in stereo
when the bass drum comes in you'll feel it through your couch!
not to be missed...please harmonia mundi what about the miracles of notre dame from the same group?

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