Nigra sum sed formosa
Morenas in Ibero-America
Making their BEMF début, La Donna Musicale and Rumbarroco perform songs and polyphonic settings that highlight Morenas—dark-skinned women—in the Ibero-American repertory. Director Laury Gutiérrez leads us on a musical voyage from the Iberian Renaissance to African-influenced folk traditions in contemporary South America. The program features settings of Nigra sum sed formosa from the Song of Songs and other selections from Spanish songbooks—Cancioneros—with endearing depictions of Morenas, interspersed with dances. Selections include music by Manuel Machado, Francisco de Peñalosa, Juan Vásquez, and many others.
ARTISTS
Adriana Ruiz, soprano; Daniela Tosic, mezzo-soprano; Miguel Cabrera, tenor; Na’ama Lion, early flutes; Cynthia Mathiesen, violin & viola da gamba; Laury Gutiérrez, viola da gamba & early guitars; Katherine Shao, keyboards; Kera Washington & Juan Sebastian Sanchez, percussion; Roberto Perez Oraa, bandola & percussion; Eduardo Betancourt, harp & percussion.