EARLY MUSIC IN THE AMERICAS, REVIVED
BERKELEY, CA—One of the newest and most versatile early-music singing groups locally is Tactus SF, now seven years old, affiliated with the San Francisco Early Music Society.
Mention “early music” and you expect to hear polyphonic from Europe. Not so, this time. This 20-member a cappella group put together an entire program of early New-World music, “Cantus Mexicanus,” digging out sacred renaissance choral music of “New Spain,” as it was then called—-music that we almost never get to hear, part of it sung in indigenous languages. One of the beauties of Bay Area residence is the chance to hear in concerts a broader repertoire, whether instrumental or vocal.
The Tactus discovery trip transpired Aug. 27 at St. Mark’s Church, with the added asset of a period wind instruments trio, with some singers doubling as instrumentalists. Music Director Elizabeth Kimble has assembled a varied ensemble, notable both for its versatility and its resounding lyric sopranos.
The most accomplished of all these composers were two that started in Spain and emigrated to take on church posts in Mexico. Gutierréz de Padilla was a master polyphonist running the cathedral in Puebla. (Here, with two brief Latin excerpts, “Vidi turbam” and “Stabat mater.”) Even more remarkable was Hernando Franco, choirmaster in Mexico City less than a century after Columbus’ first New-World discovery journey. The implication is that he produced good works and performers for worship in record time.
Besides the Latin, Tactus also performed in local languages like Nahuatl and Peruvian Quechua, both ballasted by intimidating five-syllable words.
Of special note was one of the Old-Testament Lamentations of Jeremiah portraying the suffering of the people, composed by the indigenous Juan de Lienas. Instrumental works by Bravo and Gaspar Fernandes featured Renaissance cornetto, sackbut and dulcian.
Given the direction of repertory here, then certainly a future program of music from our California missions would be appropriate, particularly delving into the archives of Mission San Jose in Fremont, which developed some of the finest music programs of all the West Coast missions in the early 19th century under Fr. Narcisco Durán.
Tactus SF, a Bay Area unaccompanied mixed chorus under Elizabeth Kimble, performing Aug. 26 and 27 on each side of the Bay, the latter at St. Mark’s Episcopal, 2300 Bancroft, Berkeley. For info: Tactus-SF.org.
