Vivanco: Missa pro Defunctis / Motets

Spanish Renaissance polyphony is known for its florid, complex contrapuntal structures and dark timbres. Sebastián de Vivanco (c. 1551–1622), born in Ávila but active for almost his entire life in Salamanca, stands out from his contemporaries: his music explores a much wider spectrum of tone colors and techniques than that of, for instance, Tomás Luis de Victoria. In his more experimental and dramatic motets, some of which can be heard here, he points the way toward the new Baroque. But in the quiet sobriety of his Requiem, now reconstructed and recorded for the first time, he honors the Iberian tradition of leisurely, vocal-led polyphony, which is made all the more moving by its clear clarity and exquisitely beautiful chord progressions. Also featured are works by his contemporaries Cristóbal de Morales, Bernadino de Ribera, Juan Gutiérrez Padilla, and Melchor Robledo. All works are performed by the chamber choir The Renaissance Singers.