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Por los Montes de Conares, Music & Erotism in the Spanish Golden Age on CD

Saucy songs of sex, love and life in the Spanish Golden Age, revived and performed with relish by a native early-music ensemble.

Of the 10 composers featured on this entertaining new album, only two have any claim to fame: Juan del Encina (1468-1529) and Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710). The others will be discoveries for even the most assiduous collectors of early music: the likes of Luis de Briceno, Diego Pisador, Juan Bon and Juan Aranes. This rarity value, appealing in itself, is perhaps less germane to the character of the album than the bawdy and boisterous character of the whole.

Many of the melodies may have originated as settings of sacred texts, but they became attached to decidedly profane verses: one song to the tune of another, as it were. The booklet essay exposes the many double-entendres latent within both texts and settings. Several are couched in explicitly anti-clerical vein, mocking the clergy for their hypocrisy and priapism. Other texts rejoice in the pleasures of hedonism, for both men and women, inviting the listener to enjoy by proxy the prospect of threesomes and happy endings.

In the nature of such songs, the music swaps sophistication for good, simple fun, based on strong Spanish rhythms, rooted in chaconne and folia ground basses. Several of them were originally sung as verses and chorus, with everyone present joining in. There are also seguidillas of a more erotic and sensual nature, but the texts still appeal to the listener with a dirty mind. These reconstructions accordingly seek to recapture the rough and tumble of a late-night session at a grimy bar in 17th-century Burgos. Not, perhaps, an album for those who like their music on the straight and narrow.

Led by Jose Duce Chenoll, Amystis has a track record of success in unearthing both sacred and profane musical treasures from Golden-Age Spain. 'Chenoll has an endearing way of letting his singers express the music with a natural flow free of effects.' (Fanfare on works by Joan Bautista Comes, 95231).

- This highly interesting and original concept album presents vocal works from 16th century Spain dealing with eroticism in all it's forms.

- In this music we find the vivid expression of the amorous, sexual, private and at the same time playful life of a society which gave expression to it's impulses and passions, thus describing a vivid sound tapestry of Spain's Golden Age of Juan del Encina, Garcilaso, Cervantes, Lope de Vega and Gongora.

- Presented are works by many, nowadays forgotten, composers. The excellent, comprehensive and scientific liner notes explain the text of each song, illustrating the often double meaning of certain words and phrases.

- The title of the CD takes up the title of a poem by an anonymous Spanish poet ("Through the mountains of Conares

- Sung by the Amystis solo vocalists and played by a rich instrumental group including viola da gamba, recorders, vihuela and percussion, everything under the direction of Jose Duce Chenoll.