Spanish Renaissance and Latin American Baroque

Holy Rood Catholic Church, Abingdon Road, Oxford Sunday March 25th, 7.30pm

The Cherwell Singers James Brown

On Palm Sunday in the suitably Catholic setting of Holy Rood Church, Abingdon Road, the Cherwell Singers presents a concert of early sacred music from Spain and New Spain - the Old World, and the new one of Latin America.

The Spanish missionaries regarded music as an important tool in the conversion of the local people and brought with them their church music. Eventually a native tradition grew up around them. Thus the first half of our concert explores some of the music from leading composers of the Spanish golden age, Vittoria, Guerrero and Morales. After the interval we cross the ocean to the New World where we discover pieces by Spaniards such as Padilla and Franco, who moved to South America and composed there, as well as native composers from a later tradition such as Capillas and Franco. Thus the concert can be seen as a journey both geographically and musically.

We will be joined by soprano Esther Brazil, as well as organist Benjamin Bloor from the London Oratory Church, who will be playing solos from both sides of the ocean and which complement the choral music offered. On this important date in the church calendar do join us for this concert of highlights from the wealth of Spanish, and Spanish inspired, Catholic music.