Codex

Santiago de Murcia – Ensemble Kapsberger

Having bought this online, I can’t cheat and pretend I know anything about Santiago from Murcia. But, I can tell you, most everything I’ve heard from Ensemble Kapsberger is gold, having enjoyed a lot their albums Alfabeto and Nuove Musiche. Lutes, guitars, percussion all come alive in crystal-clear detail. This album is in the same vein, of course this time around with a dedicated Spanish flavor.

Included are a collection of folias and various dance-driven pieces improvised by single and multiple instruments. Lislevand’s approach always seems to be a modern, fresh interpretation using original sources and authentic instruments. What you get when you play this for folks is confusion: “What kind of music is this?” I ask. “I don’t know,” they say, and they are amazed to learn how ancient the music is. “Fresh, is more like it,” they’ll say. Sure enough, Lislevand’s ensemble brings a fresh approach, and the results are entertaining and sometimes very toe-tapping.

The music here isn’t significantly deep, but that doesn’t mean technically it isn’t challenging. It’s about color, texture, and dynamics. This makes a great recipe for relaxing, dining, and maybe even dancing, if you’re so inclined. You can imagine yourself on a terrace in Spain in the night, perhaps, or traveling back through time with thoughts of Don Quixote.

While I’d put this release third after Lislevand’s other two releases mentioned above, it should have a place in your collection.