A Belen (To Bethlehem) December 4, 2011

This December, California Bach Society showcases the Spanish Baroque Christmas tradition - with music from the Iberian Peninsula as well as the Americas, where the Catholic liturgy was blended with indigenous dance forms, language, and melodies. An ensemble of Baroque guitar, strings, harp, and percussion joins the 30-voice chorus for this lively program.

In addition to wonderful villancicos and double-choir motets from the Old and New Worlds, California Bach Society's program features rarely performed pieces by Padre Antonio Soler. Artistic Director Paul Flight learned of this composer about ten years ago and was eager to explore his delightful music, which is full of humorous references to the work of a music director.

"De un maestro de cappilla" by Soler tells an amusing story. The Maestro, depicted as a fearsome teacher who threatens the children of the choir with a whipping if they don't learn their solfege, enters the scene after the choir sings that, as usual, the villancico they are to sing for their Christmas festival has not been prepared. Though they fear him, they provoke the Maestro more and more with naughty exclamations and pranks. The Maestro has the children sing some charming five-part canons in solfege. A storm arrives and the village bells ring. Everyone pleads that the storm be averted, and the story ends seriously with a prayer.

"Congregante e festero" opens with the chorus announcing that the Christ Child has just been born in Bethlehem and that three masses must be sung to Him. The chorus relates that a Churchgoer has come to discuss with the Music Director the price of composing a new mass. The Music Director asks for one thousand sovereigns. The Churchgoer agrees to this price and is assured by the Music Director that he will hear something quite marvelous. In the fourth and final verse, the Churchgoer asks for a fugue before he leaves. The Music Director asks for his money, and the fugue concludes the villancico.

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