Soto De Langa: 20 Laude Spirituali

Capilla Musical de la Iglesia Nacional Espanola de Roma, Quarta, Alessandro

96164

Born in the context of the popular devotion of the peoples of the Mediterranean during the late Middle Ages, the spiritual lauda became well established in the central part of Italy, where a strong oral tradition is still preserved today. They were originally monodic compositions in the vernacular, based on the style of the Occitan troubadours (12th to 14th century), with a regular rhythm and simple melodic form, which could be sung by anyone with or without instrumental accompaniment.

Francisco Soto was born in Langa de Duero, in the present-day province of Soria, Spain, in 1534. He trained musically as a puer cantor in the Cathedral of El Burgo de Osma before leaving for Rome and being admitted in 1562 as a cantor in the Pontifical Musical Chapel, today commonly known as the Sistine Chapel Choir. He was the first castrato to join the choir. He served in Rome as a falsettist soprano for 49 years, until 1611, 5 years of which were spent as maestro uno inter pares of the Cappella Musicale Pontificia, between 1606 and 1611.

This recording presents 20 Laudi, collected from the 5 books of Laudi, published in Rome between 1583 and 1598, written in daring polyphonic arrangements by Soto de Langa.

Performed by La Capilla musical de la Iglesia Nacional Española de Santiago y Montserrat de Roma (The Musical Chapel of Santiago and Montserrat), the heir to the immense artistic-musical heritage that the Spanish have left for centuries in Rome. Some of the most important composers of the European Renaissance, such as Cristóbal de Morales, Francisco Guerrero, Tomás Luis de Victoria and Francisco Soto de Langa himself, have rendered their services in the ancient Roman temples of the Crown of Castile and Aragon. It is the only musical institution in Rome dedicated entirely to the Spanish repertoire. Since 2018 the chapel has been under the direction of Fabjola Lekaj, who has also been the titular organist of the Spanish National Church since 2013.

CD x 1

Brilliant Classics

2022-07-04

5028421961644