Situated on the very western edge of Europe, Santiago de Compostela has been a spiritual and artistic center since the Middle Ages. In the seventeenth century, its cathedral enjoyed a golden age that led to the transformation of its Romanesque structure into a Baroque landmark. There, a polychoral style was abundantly cultivated, giving both solemnity and grandeur to religious ceremonies. Among the maestros that served the Compostela cathedral, the Navarran composer José de Baquedano (1642–1711) stands out. He left a notable vocal legacy in Spanish and Latin after three decades of practice. Therein, his pieces written for Holy Week are especially remarkable. This recording offers a novel anthology of Baquedano’s Latin work, with a selection of motets, psalms and lamentations written for two and three choirs, revealing the magnificent talent of this composer from a place on the geographical outskirts.

“[Recasens’s] commitment to this music is clear and he has a firm understanding of style and pacing”, Gary Higginson, MusicWeb

“Baquedano is a real discovery. […] The singing is as good as one would like, and Recasens manages to get the best out of them. The blending of the voices is immaculate”, Johan van Veen, Musica Dei Donum

“Auch Spanien hat mit Baquedano eien Gabrieli oder Schütz, wenn auch erst ein  Jahrhundert später, den wir mit dieser Aufnahme entdecken und bewundern dürfen!”, Sabine Weber, Fono Forum

“Toujours aussi inspirés – mais ici supérieurement articulés (en latin) Albert Recasens et ses chanteurs de La Grande Chapelle révèlent l’écriture baroque d’un maître sacré à la Cathédrale Santiago de Compostelle. […] Exemplaire”, Carter Chris-Humphray, Classiquenews.com

“Una grabación de enorme trascendencia […] En la búsqueda de su expresión propia, los músicos de La Grande Chapelle, cantantes e instrumentistas de una sólida tradición musical culta, ayudan al fortalecimiento de la investigación musicológica y a la interpretación de la música”, Carme Miró, Sonograma

“Recasens ha realizado una rigurosa investigación, el estudio musicológico paralelo y la coordinación de la transcripción de las obras”, Mundoclásico.com