The Spanish Court

A lavish production, Music For The Duke Of Lerma, by Paul McCreesh and his Gabrieli Consort and Players. Spread over two disks, this presents music for the translation of the blessed sacrament into the collegiate church of San Pedro in Lerma ( Spain ). It is a recreation of first vespers and the Salve Service as it was celebrated in October 1617 in the presence of King Philip III and the Duke of Lerma. McCreesh has made a number of such painstaking recreations of historical pageants and celebrations. This was a particular occasion when the Duke of Lerma cemented himself as a coming man in Spanish politics by managing to get the King to include his northern district in the royal procession around Spain. The disk was recorded in the church in Lerma where this original service took place and it is a fine acoustic for the music. The music is carefully reconstructed from archives of the time. The singing is mainly unaccompanied, interspersed with instrumental interludes on organ, brass and occasional strings. The playing is on instruments faithful to the period. An altogether successful project.