Latin music

Nigra sum sed formosa: Morenas in Ibero-America​

LA DONNA MUSICALE & RUMBARROCO

Laury Gutierrez, Director

Making their BEMF debut, La Donna Musicale and Rumbarroco perform songs and polyphonic settings that highlight Morenas—dark-skinned women—in the

Ibero-American repertory. Director Laury Gutierrez leads us on a musical voyage from the Iberian Renaissance to African-influenced folk traditions in contemporary South America. The program features settings of Nigra sum sed formosa from the Song of Songs and other selections from Spanish Cancioneros (songbooks) with endearing depictions of Morenas, interspersed with dances. Music by Manuel Machado, Francisco de Peñalosa, Juan Vásquez, and more.

Performance

Adriana Ruiz, soprano
Daniela Tosic, mezzo-soprano
Miguel Cabrera, tenor
Na’ama Lion, early flutes
Cynthia Mathiesen, violin & viola da gamba
Laury Gutierrez, viola da gamba & early guitars
Katherine Shao, keyboards
Kera Washington, percussion
Juan Sebastian Sanchez, percussion
Roberto Perez Oraa, bandola & percussion
Eduardo Betancourt, harp & percussion
Kirsten Lamb, bass