Saturday 22nd May 2021
El Parnaso Hyspano
EARLY MUSIC FROM THE NEW WORLD
St John The Baptist Church
Ripe
BN8 6AU
EL PARNASO HYSPANO
Hispanic Early Music Ensemble: Bringing Ancient Music to the New World
Kate Smith (soprano)
Verónica Chacón (alto)
Rafael Montero (tenor, and founder)
John Sloboda (bass)
James Akers (theorbo / guitar)
Ticket reservations from boxoffice@villagesmusicfestival.org or by phoning 01323 811835.
The concert will also be Zoomed, details to follow.
ABOUT THE CONCERT
The conquest of Latin America was characterised by ambition, boldness, cruelty and related to the rare metals discovered there, particularly silver and gold. The story of Latin America was marked by the ambitions of the European kings, who wanted the silver and gold for their own goals and purpose. But what they didn't know is that real gold and silver was the magnificent baroque music that was born from the mixing of indigenous music with the European styles and instruments. Later the African slaves brought their rhythm and enriched this music, which first came from Spain to America and then back to Spain with these new influences.
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The first written works were religious hymns, for the native Americans, incorporating elements of symbolism from both Christian and ancient indigenous religions in a sort of religious syncretism. This programme contains music of Christmas and Passiontide, the most important religious celebrations but with the influence and the characteristic colour of native traditions. The dance is a very special component of the native American cultures, which connected those living on earth with the Gods living in the heavens. One of these dances, the Chacona, was born in the jungles of South America, and came back to Europe with its sensual movements to and became the queen of the dances, that even Monteverdi, Lully, and Bach adapted in in their own style.
ABOUT EL PARNASO HYSPANO
EL PARNASO HYSPANO is an international chamber group of singers and instrumentalists dedicated to the performance of early Hispanic music, ranging from the medieval to the baroque and early classical. Our repertoire encompasses Spain and Latin America, with a specialism in the music of “Golden Age” [El Siglo de Oro 1500-1700] when the Spanish empire was at its height. In this time there was a wealth of musical creativity in the major cultural and religious centres, particularly in what afterwards became Bolivia and Peru, the richest viceroyalties of South America. Much of this music is only now being recently rediscovered and published for contemporary performance, and the group showcases the richness of the Hispanic musical legacy of the Americas. They help to make known music written in native American languages, such as Quechua, Guarani, Nahuatl and Mochica, an extinct language.
El Parnaso Hyspano is the artistic vision of its founder Rafael Montero, begun in Cologne in 2016, and since 2020 involving professional musicians based in London, but with international heritage, bringing not only musical but cultural enrichment, contributing to a multicultural dialogue.
The group’s London debut was in December 2020, performing Latin American Baroque Christmas Music, including the African-inspired Negrillas, blending voices with instrumenta and percussion.
KATE SMITH
Kate is a vocal artist, composer and workshop leader who is passionate about creating music, and facilitating collective music-making, for voices and bodies in motion. Having earned her MMus in classical voice from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Kate enjoys a diverse artistic career spanning the worlds of classical singing to vocal improvisation. She is a cast member of Verity Standen’s acclaimed Undersong, Artistic Director of THAT! Ensemble and creator of The Embodied Voice. She has worked for and performed at the TATE Exchange, The London Charterhouse, Hundred Years Gallery, The Nest Collective, The Barbican, Greenwich Dance, Cyphers Theatre Company, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and more.
VERONICA CHACON
Verónica is a versatile mezzo soprano who is particularly passionate about the physicality of the human voice. This passion has allowed her to explore different vocal universes : improvisation (The Improvisers' Choir, THAT Ensemble, Dancing with Parkinson's), jazz and French songs (V&J), Early Music, Romantic and Classical as Conductor for V&J Ensemble. Verónica is also a voiceover artist, illustrator and designer. She is delighted to be part of El Parnasso Hispano from its inception.
RAFAEL MONTERO
Founder of El Parnaso Hyspano, Rafael is a solo tenor and ensemble singer, singing teacher, and coach. Rafael’s heritage is Inca and Spanish, and he has spoken Quichua since he was a child He specialises in renaissance Spanish and South American Baroque music and also in romantic and contemporary chamber music from Hispanic South America and Spain. Rafael studied singing at the Conservatorio Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina, and then in early and chamber music at the Conservatoire de Musique de Neuchatel, Switzerland. In 2016, he created the first Ancient Music Festival in Jujuy, Argentina "Xuxuy Barroco" . In 2019 he made his London debut with the celebrated pianist Nigel Foster, showcasing classical music by Spanish-American and Spanish-influenced composers. Most recently with fortepianist Carole Cerasi he has made the first recordings of the songs of South America’s pre-eminent classical composer, Pedro XImenez Abril y Tirado.
JOHN SLOBODA
John Sloboda, OBE, FBA is a singer, pianist, conductor, and researcher. He has sung with many groups including the Chapel Choir of the Queen’s College Oxford, the Chorus of the Academy of St Martin’s in the Field, the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, and the City Chamber Choir. At Keele University he was founder conductor of the Keele Bach Choir and is currently Assistant Conductor of Chorus of Dissent, a community choir based in Hackney, London. He is also a music psychologist, currently Research Professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where one of his major interests has been the psychology of the live concert, and how to enhance the audience experience.
JAMES AKERS
Critically acclaimed musician James Akers was hailed as ‘the great Scottish guitarist’ by Classical Guitar Magazine and, in a review from Gramophone, his playing was described as, ‘containing all the warmth, colour and expressive richness one could hope for.’ James studied at the Royal College of Music, London and has performed widely with leading artists, ensembles, and opera companies. He has released several solo recordings and given recitals throughout the world. Throughout his varied career, James has explored music from a stylistic perspective, combining diligent research with expressive playing to communicate the continuity of musical expression through the centuries.
