Fernandes: Chanzonetas

The selection of villancicos included in this recording forms a specific collection in the Cancionero. Alonso de Bonilla’s texts are distinguished by a deep and sophisticated religious message; this provides unity to these musical pieces in the context of the composer’s catalog. This selection of pieces offers a good opportunity to partially discover a new Gaspar Fernandez, especially in comparison to that already performed and recorded. The particular structure of the pieces, when the original poem is fully set to music, includes a solo or duet introduction (without instrumental accompaniment), followed by a refrain written for all the voices, and by some verses (coplas) scored for one, two or three voices. This structure allows us to alternate between voices a cappella (introduction and verses) and the full ensemble (voices and instruments) at the refrains. The participation of the full music chapel (singers and wind-players) at the solemnities on Christmas, Epiphany and Corpus Christi is a general practice well documented in ecclesiastical institutions in Spain and the New World, such as Puebla Cathedral.