Nueva Espana : Close Encounters in the New World, 1590 -1690

Boston Camerata (Artist), Joel Cohen (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Joel Cohen
• Audio CD (February 8, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Erato / Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000005E9V
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,990 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Cum audisset Joannes

2. Hanacpachap cussicuinin

3. Deus in adjutorium - Domine in Adjutorium

4. A este sol peregrino

5. La Reina do los Pangelinguas

6. Lamentatio

7. Pabanas

8. Que se ausenta

9. Xichochi conetzintle

10. Ay Ay galeguinos

11. Exultate, iusti, in domino

12. Tiento

13. Dame albricia, 'mano Anton

14. Gallego: Si al nacer o minimo

15. Tarara, tarara

16. Hanacpachap cussicuinin

17. Los conflades de la estleya

18. Cumba

19. Agnus Dei

20. Agnus Dei from the Misse Ave regina

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sunny and joyous!, April 9, 2000

By 

"gaios33" (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nueva Espana : Close Encounters in the New World, 1590 -1690 (Audio CD)

We all know about the horrors of the Age of Exploration in the New World. However, Joel Cohen's goal with this recording is to call attention to "the meeting places of light and beauty that did indeed exist in those terrible, hard centuries." He shows us the fruitful intercultural exchange that transpired between the indigenous American cultures, the Spanish, and the Africans.

And indeed, this is beautiful music. It is lively and driven at times by the sunny strumming of the baroque guitar and the maracas, tambourine, and claves, and at other times stately with the contemplative musings of Iberian harp or the majestic organs in Mexican cathedrals. The lovely, baroque/Latin voices (most of the time a quartet of two sopranos, a counter-tenor, and a tenor) soar throughout, sometimes sobbing, sometimes creating the impression of frantic dancing. But the real revelation is the inclusion of the black women's choir "Les Amis de la Sagesse," who add their Afro-Caribben stylizations (sometimes ambiguously Indian) to hymns and chants, culminating in an exuberant and majestic religious guaracha with the entire ensemble. A true gem.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Musica en el nuevo mundo, September 29, 1999

By 

"conquistador69" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nueva Espana : Close Encounters in the New World, 1590 -1690 (Audio CD)

This is a great recording by the Boston Camerata. Music from the new world perfomed on period instruments.This recording includes music by Spanish and native composers.This was inspired and influenced by the different cultures of the new world from a vailete to a cumba,from music of Spain to a chant in honor of the virgin Mary in Quechua(The language of the Incas)This is a great recording of the music of colonial Latin-America.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Latin American Baroque at its best!!!, November 29, 2001

By 

Juan Pablo Pira (Guatemala, Guatemala Guatemala) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nueva Espana : Close Encounters in the New World, 1590 -1690 (Audio CD)

A very well chosen selection of music from Latin America in the 16th and 17th centuries. This music was produced by a very powerful mixture of African, European, and Indian elements. You get to hear music in Galician, Castillian, Quechua, Nahuatl, and Latin (sometimes even mixed) all sounding European but always with a very distinct New World falvor.

For those with a taste for baroque music, this recording provides a very alternative and refreshing sound. My personal recommendations: Hanacpachap cussicuinin, A este sol peregrino, tarará and Guaracha: Convidando esta la noche. Remember to hear the last two pieces together... the contrast provided by the different styles makes the last piece even more exciting.