MÚSICA ANTIGUA – Early music from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Cathedral
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria's Santa Ana Cathedral is not only an architectural testament to centuries of construction history, but also an important musical center in the Atlantic region. Since the late 15th century, it has had its own music ensemble, whose repertoire is reflected in the cathedral's archives, which have been preserved to this day. The oldest sources date back to the early 16th century and document a rich, largely unknown tradition of sacred music in the Canary Islands.
This recording focuses on the Villancico, a form of song that originated in folk music and developed between the 16th and 18th centuries into one of the most important musical genres of the Iberian Baroque. The villancico flourished particularly in Las Palmas Cathedral: it combined religious content with regional, linguistic, and cultural influences, also incorporating elements of African and American musical traditions—a reflection of the islands' global connections.
The works recorded here were composed by three chapel masters of the cathedral: Francisco Hernández, Diego Durón, and Joaquín García. While Hernández is one of the earliest figures, known only fragmentarily, Durón shaped the musical life of the cathedral for more than five decades with a wealth of colorful villancicos. García continued this tradition in the 18th century, opening it up to Italian influences, new instruments, and modern forms such as recitative and aria.
The vocal repertoire is complemented by organ music from 17th-century Spain, represented by works by Sebastián Aguilera de Heredia and Pablo Bruna, two central figures of the Aragonese organ school. Their music exemplifies the high craftsmanship and expressive quality of Iberian keyboard music of that period.
Since its founding, the Capilla del Real de Las Palmas has been dedicated to rediscovering and bringing this musical heritage to life. With historical performance practice, scientific curiosity, and sonic presence, the ensemble brings the music of Santa Ana Cathedral back to life—as part of a multifaceted cultural history between Europe, Africa, and the New World.