Airs Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 1 p.m. Manuel de Sumaya (1678-1755) is probably the best known composer from colonial Mexico and a shining star of the baroque era. In celebration of the holiday season, A Baroque Christmas in the New World features The Historical Performance Institute of the Jacobs School of Music (Indiana University) under the direction of Dana Marsh in a program of music from 17th- and 18th-century Mexico, Peru and Bolivia, featuring works by Juan de Araujo (1646-1712) and Manuel de Sumaya (1678-1755).
Araujo, born in Spain, traveled to the new world as a boy, where ultimately his talents shone brightly throughout Peru and Bolivia. He was chief musician at the Cathedrals of Lima, Cusco, and Sucre.
Manuel de Sumaya was preeminent among composers of the Mexican Baroque, working at the Cathedral in Mexico City. This broadcast features a cantata, along with three free-standing works by Sumaya - all to be given modern premier performances. From the Cathedral archives, all but one of these works come from the only surviving manuscript in full-score - in Sumaya's own hand. Pioneering musicologist Craig Russell provides the research and the first performance editions of these works.
The musicians of the Historical Performance Institute at the Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University offer exquisite performances which bring these sparkling works to life once again.
Hosted by Angela Mariani from WFIU Public Radio’s program of early music, Harmonia.