Narvaez: Vihuela music

Lluys de Narvaez
Los seys líbros del Delphín de Música, 1538
Hopkinson Smith
Astrée (Auvidis) E 8706

Contents:

  1. Fantasia del quarto tono (2nd book)
  2. Una baxa de contra punto (6th book)
  3. Fantasia del segundo tono (1st book)
  4. Fantasia del quarto tono (1st book)
  5. La cancion del Emperador. Mille regres del quarto tono de Josquin (3rd book)
  6. Je veulx laysser melancolie de Ricafort (3rd book)
  7. Fantasia del septimo tono sobre ut re mi mi (1st book)
  8. Siete diferencias de guarda me las vacas (6th book)
  9. Fantasia del primer tono (1st book)
  10. Fantasia del octavo tono (1st book)
  11. Sanctus de la missa de Faysan regres de Josquin. Osanna de la misma missa (3rd book)
  12. Fantasia del sesto tono sobre fa ut mi re (1st book)
  13. Fantasia del quinto tono (2nd book)
  14. Seys diferencias del hyno de nuestra Senoza. O gloriosa domina (4th book)
  15. Sanctus de la missa d'Ercules dux ferarie de Josquin. Ossana de la misma missa (3rd book)
  16. Fantasia del primer tono (2nd book)
  17. Una cancion de Gombert del primer tono (3rd book)
  18. Fantasia del primer tono (2nd book)
  19. Cum sancto spiritu de la missa de la fuga de Josquin (3rd book)
  20. Fantasia del tercero tono (1st book)
  21. Veynte y dos diferencias de Conde claros (6th book)

Playing time: 65'

Recording date: September 1988;
Rel.: 03/01/1990 (E).

Compilation:
Astrée (Auvidis) E 8600 [CDx7] España XVe-XXe - Six siècles de musique espagnole

Luys de Narvaez (c.1500-1555) was one of the first composers to publish collections of "serious" music especially for plucked string instruments (together with Francesco da Milano (1497-1543) in Italy). Most of his works are either fantasias or adaptations of motets. Josquin and Gombert were especially favored by Narvaez for thematic material.

This disc presents selections from Narvaez' six books of intabulations (called Delphín de Música), played on a Spanish instrument of the time, the vihuela. These are energetic pieces, with some Moorish influence remaining in the fantasias. Diferencias are variations, in a specifically Spanish style.

Another such program:

Narvaez: Música del Delphín
Pablo Márquez
ECM New Series 1958

A recording devoted to Narvaez' vocal output:

Narvaez: Sacred & Secular Works
Marta Almajano / Juan Carlos Rivera
Almaviva 0116

Recordings of music by the other two major vihuela composers, Luys Milan (c.1500-c.1561) and Alonso Mudarra (c.1506-1580):

Luys Milan: El Maestro (1536)
Hopkinson Smith
Astrée 7748
Alonso Mudarra: Tres Libros de Musica en Cifras para vihuela (1546)
Hopkinson Smith
Astrée 8740

These three recordings (including the present one reissued as a set):

Fantasias - Música de vihuela
Milan / Narvaez / Mudarra
Hopkinson Smith
Astrée 8652 (3 CDs)

A recording devoted to contemporary composer Miguel de Fuenllana:

Fuenllana: Libro de Música para vihuela intitulado "Orphenica"
Orphénica Lyra - José Miguel Moreno
Glossa 920204

Some general vihuela collections:

Canto del Cavallero
José Miguel Moreno (vihuela)
Glossa 920101
Vihuela Music of the Spanish Renaissance
Christopher Wilson
Virgin Veritas 59596
De los Alamos de Sevilla
16th Century Spanish Vihuela Music Printed in Seville
Juan Carlos Rivera
Almaviva 0106
Tañer de Gala
Vihuela Music
Juan Carlos Rivera
Cantus 9631
The Vihuela in the Royal Courts of Spain
Dolores Costoyas
Glissando 016
Delphín
Works for vihuela de mano
Frank Wallace
Gyre Music 10042
Nunca más verán mis ojos
Alfred Fernandez
Enchiriadis 2004
Spanish vihuelists of the 16th century III
Jorge Fresno
Musical Heritage Society 3331 (LP)

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Todd M. McComb