La Spagna

La Spagna is a programme full of surprises, with a Spanish character. The "La Spagna" mass by Heinrich Isaac is central to the programme. This mass, originally written for a choir, seemed suitable for the recorder. One often speaks of a large recorder orchestra as if it were a voice choir. The various recorder types always have the names of the voices: soprana, alto, tenor, and bass. A large recorder orchestra, like a choir, has a number of people playing the same voice. There are also a lot of similarities to be found between singing and playing a wind instrument. Although there are differences, these similarities between the human voice and the recorder led us to examine the literature on choral music to see which of the great choral works would be suitable for the recorder. This programme is primarily the result of this consideration. In order to perform the "La Spagna" mass, the original composition required only minor changes for a new arrangement.

Heinrich Isaac's mass used the then well-known melody of "La Spagna" as its source of inspiration. Since nearly everyone was already familiar with the melody, Isaac thus made this mass more recognisable and accessible for the public. The "La Spagna" mass consists of Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Benedictus, and concludes with the Agnus Dei. The various parts of the mass are alternated during this concert with medieval dance improvisations and works by Josquin des Prez, George Frederic Händel, and Wilfred Reneman. The Suite in d-Minor by George Frederic Händel was originally a clavecimbel suite, which has been re-arranged for the large recorder orchestra. Wilfred Reneman wrote the Spanish dances especially for the Dutch Recorder Orchestra Praetorius. The Spanish flamenco, tango, etc. are accompanied by guitars and castagnettes. A dancer makes the programme complete.


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