Customer Reviews

Guadalupe: Virgen De Los Indios

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The unique mixture of Spanish Renaissance and Aztec folk music was lost for centuries. This group recreated the music after a fortunate discovery of the old scripts. The group provides a highly enjoyable listening experience by recapturing the mysterious ambience of the times. Their talented work in rescueing a long-forgotten musical treasure is examplary. This type of music and approach bring beauty, peace and love to our trobled times.

I own two CD's by this group and bought the Guadalupe themed music in reverse order of their release dates. I loved the first one I bought and was a little disapointed when I listened to this one. The vocals lack passion and the Spanish language songs are sung with a poor accent... Hiring a singer that could annunciate the Nahuatl language would have helped. The concept and vocals themselves are beautiful. The shortcomings can be overlooked because of it's sheer beauty. The music mixes indigenous reproduced Aztec instruments with vocals. The language is derived from manuscripts dating back to the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. The blending of Aztec and Spanish language in praise of La Virgen de Guadalupe is marvelous and powerful. Conceptually it is wonderful and leaves one feeling tranquil and peaceful. It is meditative music that allows one to listen to one's heartbeat and feel contemplative and joyful. This is a good revival of spiritual music, it just needs more soul. Excellent background music to take a walk in nature and marvel at the gifts we are blessed with. Good peaceful music to get in touch with your inner sanctum.

This is simply a wonderful evocation of the period music from the earlitest Spanish period in Mexico. The singing is flawless and clearly gives a feel for the music of the period, combining the Aztec/Nahuatl with the Spanish. A deep sense of the meaning of what is being sung - even though I don't speak Nahuatl - comes through. A wonderful achievement.

This recording of centurie old music wonderfully recreates the respect and awe the orginal composers must have felt when they wrote. Truly a meeting of old and new.

When I listen to this CD I can just picture the native people of Mexico, Mexican and Indian, sitting in the church hearing this music without the "background noise" we have as a constant in our lives today. I enjoyed the mixing of Mexican and Indian tonalities on this recording. The music is well done technically by the San Antoino Vocal Arts Ensemble (SAVAE). They have recreated instruments similar to those used at the time of the original writing of this music.

I like the feel of Latin American Gregorian chants. I love to listen to this music while I work. I feel very calm and balanced.

Gorgeous harmonies and compelling musical lines and hypnotic rhythms combine with spiritual strength to make this recording profoundly moving and soothing to the soul. Timeless music that makes time stand still.

SAVAE is to be recognized for its valuable work in attempting to bring back to life the lost art of the newly converted Indians of mesoamerica. I had expected to love this recording, but I must report that my hope has turned to disappointment. My first disappointment came with being unable to get past the embarrassingly awkward Anglo pronunciation of the performers. My second disappointment was with the dispassionate voices. I had hoped to get a glimpse of the spiritual passion of indigenous persons who, even today, walk kneeling 2 miles up a mountainside to worship the Virgin of Guadalupe. I wanted to hear from the people who voluntarily sacrificed themselves on pyramids to Huitzilipochtli, the hummingbird god. The delicately meditative and polished voices of SAVAE have much to offer, but they failed to convince me that this was the music of the indiginous people I have come to know.

Que pena! This could have been a triumph, were it not for the unbelievably poor pronunciation of the Spanish and Nahuatl languages. Though I agree somewhat with other reviewers about the lack of passion, frankly, this is so trumped by the pronunciation issue that I really couldn't get past it. The voices are good but not outstanding (the arrangements are great)and so it really needs/needed authenticity. Linda Rondstadt's Canciones de mi Padres is one of my favorite recordings of all time, and she does not speak Spanish (though she was certainly familiar with the rhythms and culture, as you would think these folks from Texas are.) Anyway, close but no cigar.

A refreshing departure from the nation's apparent obsession with Celtic and "celtic" music, these are Central American madrigals. All are sung in their original language. Not bad, but nothing too memorable.