Cristobal de Morales - The Light of Spain in Music

Cristóbal de Morales (c.1500-1553) was the first Spanish composer to enjoy an international reputation. After early choirmaster posts in Spain, he was appointed to the Papal Choir in Rome in 1535 by Pope Paul III. He stayed there for ten years, publishing eight Magnificats and fifteen Masses. On his return to Spain he took up a series of prominent choirmasterships, but poor health and a surly disposition meant he never stayed anywhere for long and he died, possibly from malaria, in 1553. Recognised as the greatest composer of his lifetime, he was described by a contemporary as 'the Light of Spain in Music'.

Morales’ Masses are his greatest achievement. In this concert the men of DE PROFUNDIS perform two beautiful examples – the Missa de Beata Virgine for four voices, expanding to five in the final movement, and the Missa Tristezas me matan, based on a popular Spanish song. The programme also includes the exciting Magnificat quarti toni.

This concert is the fifth instalment of an ambitious twelve-year project by De Profundis to perform and record the complete Masses and Magnificats by Morales, conducted by Robert Hollingworth and Eamonn Dougan.

ROBERT HOLLINGWORTH is the founder-director of I Fagiolini, an award-winning group renowned for its innovative staged productions of vocal music from the Renaissance to the present day. He combines running the ensemble with teaching at the University of York where he is a Reader in Music. He also (alongside Eamonn Dougan and Nicholas Mulroy) hosts Choral Chihuahua, “the podcast for choral chat, choons and interviews.”

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Host or Publisher De Profundis, conducted by Robert Hollingworth