| |
Since its foundation in 1984 Schola Antiqua has focused its activities towards the study, investigation and interpretation of early music especially Gregorian Chant. All of its members were trained as choir boys in the Choir School of the Sta. Cruz del Valle de los Caídos Abbey. Its repertoire covers the whole western liturgical monody (beneventano, ambrosian, mozarabic...) in its different forms, as well as the primitive polyphony of S. Marcial de Limoges, Notre-Dame, Ars Antiqua and Ars Nova. It often introduces alternatim productions in its repertoire both with the organ and with polyphonic combinations, interpreting the Gregorian chant in Spanish polyphony and keyboard plays and in organ masses composers of both French and Italian baroque as well as organists such as Claudio Astronio, Raúl del Toro, Roberto Fresco and Montserrat Torrent. It collaborates regularly in its reconstructions of Gregorian Chant with La Colombina, Ensemble Plus Ultra , His Majesty’s Sagbutts and Cornetts, Ensemble Baroque de Limoges, Ministriles de Marsias, La Grande Chapelle,...
SCHOLA ANTIQUA has performed in numerous festivals in our country, in Europe the United States Japan and Libanum and has recorded them for TVE, RNE, Radio Baviera and Radio France and Radio Suizzera. Its records which are dedicated to pieces of Gregorian Repertoire are a result of its investigations and are reconstructed according to the most ancient manuscripts and monographs regarding the ancient Hispanic liturgy where the songs of the Oficio de Difuntos appear for the first time according to the mozarabic tradition. In conjunction with the Capilla Peñaflorida it has recorded a reconstruction of the “Oficio de Vísperas” with music from the XVI-XVIII centuries from the chapel masters of the Burgo de Osma Cathedral and with the Escolanía de la Abadía de Sta. Cruz has also undertaken the first world recording of Mozarabic Mass according to the reformed ritual by the Sacred Congregation of Rituals. In 2004 it recorded a reconstruction of the Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae by Tomás Luis de Victoria for the label Glossa in combination with La Colombina. In 2005 it undertook a reconstruction of Officium y Missa pro Defunctis by Mateo Romero together with La Grande Chapelle. Its recordings cover the "Octoechos latino", and a reconstruction of a mass given for the "Dedication to the Church" and the first recording of the pieces of the “mozarabic" trade involving consecrating the alter. Schola Antiqua does not forget the liturgical participation and genuine context of both the Gregorian and Hispanic liturgical monody. This is also confirmed by its reiterated participation in the Religious Music Week in Cuenca within the Triduo Sacro celebrated in the Cathedral or the various “mozarabic” masses in the Sta. Cruz abbey or in the closure of the Old Music Week in Estella. It recently participated in the Week End of Early Music in the Queen Elizabeth Hall with Ensemble Plus Ultra and His Majesty’s Sagbutts and Cornetts.
|
|
 |
 |
Juan Carlos Asensio, conductor of Schola Antiqua
|
|
|
|
