Hispanic Heritage Month

Brazilian musician Ignacio Parreiras Neves was a composer, singer, and conductor who lived from 1730 until 1794. His compositions were mainly religious works and, unfortunately, most of his music has been lost. Today’s Beautiful Music is one of compositions that survived the centuries — a lovely CREDO that was composed in the 18th century but […]

Bogotá-born musician José Cascante was a composer and organist, and worked as Chapelmaster of his home city’s cathedral from 1646 until his death, and oversaw the installation of its organ. Today’s Beautiful Music is from a 2021 concert performance in Mexico of José Cascante’s Qué dulcemente que canta by Música Ficta, whose members are tenor

18th century Guatemalan composer, teacher and collector Manuel José de Quirós lived in the first half of the 18th century, and worked as chapelmaster of Guatemala City Cathedral. The archive at the cathedral contains many of his music manuscripts, primarily the sacred vocal music he was known for. Today’s Beautiful Music is one of the compositions

Musician Manuel Blasco was a 17th century composer in Quito, Ecuador. Also an ordained priest, his jobs included working as Chapelmaster at the Cathedral of Quito. Today’s Beautiful Music is Manuel Blasco’s composition DE UNO EN UNO VAYAN ENTRANDO.

There is some question about whether Antonio Duran de la Motta was Spanish or Portuguese. We do know the musician was also a priest, and spent most of his career working in Bolivia. Antonio Duran de la Motta was chapel master of the Mother Church of Potosí in Charcas, Bolivia. Today’s Beautiful Music is his

Bolivian Criollo musician Blas Tardío de Guzmán was born in 1694 in Tomina, Bolivia and lived until 1762. As a church musician he worked as the chapelmaster of the Cathedral of Sucre, (formerly known as La Plata.) Today’s Beautiful Music is ALARMA, ALARMA AFECTOS by Blas Tardío de Guzmán. It’s a type of composition called

How about a quick and charming visit to South America? Today’s Beautiful Music is folk song from Chile. Aroma Guitar Trio performs EL CACHIMBO, arranged by Eythor Thorlaksson.

Antonio de Literes was a Spanish musician who lived from 1673-1747. He was famous for composing a type of lyric-dramatic work called a Zarzuela that alternates between spoken word and singing. Today’s Beautiful Music is a production of a theatre work by Antonio de Literes called LOS ELEMENTOS (The Elements) from 2018.

Santo Domingo de Guzmán Church in Oaxaca dates back to the year 1570, just a few decades before the baroque era began in 1600. Today’s Beautiful Music is CELEBREN PUBLIQUEN by Manuel de Sumaya, performed by Joseph Jennings leading Chanticleer. As you listen you can take a pictorial tour of Santo Domingo de Guzmán’s beautiful

Cuban soprano Adriana Ruiz and Mexican guitarist Alejandro Jenné offer today’s Beautiful Music. Their performance of “NO PIENSE MENGUILLA YA by José Marín was part of the series Music of the Americas: En Casa. The 17th century Spanish Baroque harpist, guitarist, singer, and composer was known for his lovely songs. (He was also known for