Chamber Weekender Workshop: Spanish Vespers

This Chamber Weekender brings together a reconstructed Vespers drawn from the works of Spain’s most distinguished Renaissance composers, many of whom knew, influenced, or were aware of each other’s music. Tomás Luis de Victoria, the only Spanish composer of his generation to work extensively in Rome, returned to Madrid bringing the rich polyphonic traditions of Palestrina’s circle. Cristóbal de Morales, a generation earlier, had already paved the way for Spanish musicians in Italy, serving at the Papal Chapel and becoming one of the most widely published composers of his time. Francisco Guerrero, who studied with Morales, was based in Seville and maintained a vast network of contacts, with his music circulating across Europe and the New World.

Alongside them we feature Diego Ortiz, whose tenure in Naples placed him at the crossroads of Spanish and Italian styles; Juan Navarro, who sang under Morales in Marchena; and Juan de Esquivel Barahona, his student, who kept the polyphonic tradition alive in Salamanca into the early 17th century. Together, these composers shaped a musical landscape that was both distinctly Spanish and deeply connected to the wider European Renaissance.

Sung in sequence, their works form a complete Vespers service — a snapshot of the grandeur and devotional life of Spain’s cathedrals at the height of its musical Golden Age.

What are these weekends all about?

Our Chamber Weekenders are our most tailored and immersive offering, and are designed to challenge and stimulate experienced choral singers in a chamber setting (around 20 people). They are best suited to those who enjoy singing to a high level and feel confident in chamber-sized groups. Therefore diligent preparation and/or solid sight-reading is expected.