Bolivian Baroque vol. 3

Solomon, A. (2009) Bolivian Baroque vol. 3. [Audio]

Abstract

Music from the Missions and La Plata performed by period instrument ensemble Florilegium and Arakaendar Bolivia Choir. Welcome to our third volume of Bolivian Baroque music which was, unusually, recorded in three different venues, in two different countries almost 6250 miles apart. This time the majority of the CD was recorded in Holland (in both the Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam and the Doopsgezinde Kerk in Deventer) during Arakaendar Bolivia Choir’s first tour of Europe with Florilegium in 2008. In addition we have included a number of solo organ pieces from the Bolivian archives which James Johnstone recorded on the restored anonymous 18th century Blockwerk organ in the Mission Church of Santa Ana de Velasco. This is the first European recording on this remarkable instrument, its raw sound recorded here for posterity.The music on this volume differs considerably from the other two Channel Classics recordings (CCS 22105 & CCS 24806) as it mainly showcases Arakaendar Bolivia, the choir I set up in 2005. They continue to thrive and have shown tremendous commitment and determination in preparing this challenging and varied programme. We were delighted to be nominated by BBC Music Magazine for the best choir recording of 2008 for our last CD recording, as well as receiving our 5th Editor’s Choice from Gramophone magazine. I hope this new volume is received as warmly. As with our first two volumes we have an additional piece which has little to do with the archives in Bolivia. Instead this charming arrangement by Luis Craff of a popular Bolivian folk song Naranjitay (“little orange”) is offered as an encore with one of the tenors from the choir, Daniel Aguilar, accompanying the choir on his charango.

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