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La Donna Musicale is a non-profit research, education, and performance organization devoted exclusively to the discovery, preservation, and promotion of sacred and secular music by women composers. The ensemble uses period instruments and historical performance practices.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage, we will illustrate the intersection of early European music with the aural African and Amerindian traditions and the resulting link with current Latin-American genres, the African diaspora in Latin America and its lasting musical legacy in Ibero-American music, and the fusion of art music or “learned” music with folk and popular forms.
Using musical texts from the 17th and 18th century such us the Trujillo Codex and guitar treatises by Santiago de Murcia and Gaspar Sanz, we present the European, Amerindian, and African traditions that have survived in scores, recreating them through current performance practices of Afro-Latin music traditions in Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. We tap into our collective musical memory to blend past and present, connecting current Afro-Latin dances such as the Hatajo de Negritos, Joropo, Saya, and Plena with African-influenced dances such as the Cumbe, early Zarabanda, and Zarambeque in performances informed by both history and folklore.
Also in the program: Early vocal music from Spain and Mexico, with texts from the Iberian Cancioneros that depict black women in endearing terms and connected Latin American dances and instrumental improvisations.
Performers
Adriana Ruiz & Daniela Tosic, voice
Lisa Brooke, violin
Eduardo Betancourt, Venezuelan harp
Ricardo Matute, percussion
Laury Gutiérrez, viola da gamba & Renaissance guitar
and guest performers
Friday, October 1st, 2021 at 7:30 PM
Ripley Chapel, First Congregational Church of Winchester
Saturday, October 2 at 3PM
Studzinski Hall, Bowdoin College
Friday, October 22 at 7PM
Church of the Covenant
Florida International University’s Music Festival 2021
Sunday, October 24 time TBD
Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center
Saturday, November 6 at 7:30
Cambridge Boat Club, MA (private event)
Sunday, November 7 at 3PM
Traina Center for the Arts and Razzo Hall, Clark University, Worcester, MA
Open to members of the Clark campus community. Live stream worldwide
La Donna Musicale, Pioneering the Path for Historical Women Composers and Rumbarroco’s Latin Baroque Fusion
RE-INVENTING
A combination of pre-lecture concerts, live interaction with the ensemble, live performance snippets, and pre-recorded performances in which we re-invent both ourselves and Early Music.
Celebrating Maria Teresa Agnesi’s 300th birthday. Exploring both Africa’s lasting musical legacy and current Latin American sounds. Delighting you by the fusion of European Early Music with South American folk and popular forms in our program “Black Villancicos” Tapping our feet to our “Fandango” program. And as always, honoring minorities and presenting educational programs for youth.
