The Embassy of Spain & Ars Nova
Present a very Special Christmas Concert

Ministriles De La Reyna

Un Niňo Nos Es Nasçido

Christmas Music from Spain’s Golden Age

Samantha Louis-Jean, Soprano
Sara Lackie, Harp
Douglas Kirk, cornetto, shawm and recorder
Matthew Jennejohn, cornetto and recorder
Javier Martos Carretero, sackbut and slide trumpet
Peter Christensen, sackbut and recorder
Philip Hornsey, percussion

Thursday, December 8, 2011 - 7:30 pm
Church of St Bartholomew, 125 MacKay Street, Ottawa

Tickets: $25

Be transported to a hushed, candle-lit church on Christmas Eve in the time of Spain's magnificent Golden Age. Sackbuts, flutes, recorders and singers combine in the baroque ensemble Un Niňo Nos Es Nasçido, under their director, Javier Martos.

Honorary Patron
His Excellency Eudaldo Mirapeix
Ambassador of Spain to Canada

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the cathedrals and the cities in Spain hired musicians that played wind instruments consisting mainly of chirimias (shawms), cornets, sackbuts, dulcians, crumhorns and flutes. Such musicians were known in Spain as ministriles or chirimias (this term designated frequency, by metonymy, the whole group).
The number of ministriles was changing according to the need, the economic potential of each location and, of course, the preferences of the employers. The most common were coplas (group) of four, corresponding to the number of voices sung.
The ministriles played in the liturgical, doubling, supporting and accompanying vocal polyphony, preceding and giving brightness to the processions accompanying the dances, playing lively fanfare, announcing festivities, jousts, balls, masks and even marking the start of sales in the markets. They also went to the houses frequented by the aristocracy for playing profane music. Being versatile in playing this type of music allowed the minstrels to gently bend and switch with the singers and also to compete with the noise of the streets.

PROGRAM
I
Hanacpachap cussicinin. – pub. by Juan Pérez Bocanegra. (Lima, 1631)
Alta Reyna Soberana – Anonymous (Cancionero del Duque de Calabria , 1556)
Los Reyes siguen la estrella - Francisco Guerrero ( 1528-99)
No la devemos dormir - Bartomeu Càrceres (Cancionero del Duque de Calabria, 1556)
Que bonito niño chiquito – ( Cancionero de la Colombina. 1451-1506)
Verbum Caro Factum est. - Mateo Flecha (Cancionero del Duque de Calabria, 1556)
Dinos madre del doncel - Juan de Triana. (Cancionero de la Colombina, 1451-1506)
Un Niño nos es nasçido - Anonymous (Cancionero del Duque de Calabria, 1556)
E la don don – Attr. Bartomeu Càrceres (Cancionero del Duque de Calabria, 1556)

Intermission
II
Danza Alta sobre La Spagna - Francisco de la Torre ( Cancionero de Palacio, 1474-1516)
Gozate virgen sagrada. (Cancionero del Duque de Calabria, 1556)
Todo cuanto pudo dar. Francisco Guerrero ( 1528-99)
Dadme albricias hijos d’Eva. (Cancionero del Duque de Calabria, 1556)
Señores el qu’es nascido. (Cancionero del Duque de Calabria, 1556)
Vos virgen sois nuestra madre. (Cancionero del Duque de Calabria, 1556)
Rey a quien reyes adoran. (Cancionero del Duque de Calabria, 1556)
Yo me soy la morenica. (Cancionero del Duque de Calabria, 1556)
Virgen sancta. Francisco Guerrero ( 1528-99)
Adoramoste. Francisco de la Torre. ( Cancionero de Palacio, 1474-1516)

Purchase your tickets below or at: http://spanish_christmas.eventbrite.com/

If you are using Eventbrite a downloadable ticket (in PDF format - Adobe Acrobat) will be sent to your e-mail address - please remember to print this off and present it at the door on the night of the event.