La Musica Encerrada October 18, 2011

The Consulate General of Spain in New York and Capella de Minstrers present a night of Sephardic music, La Musica Encerrada (The Locked in Music), The Spain of Three Cultures from the XII-XVI Centuries on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 7pm at Temple Emanu-El, Fifth Avenue at 65th Street, NYC. Attendance is free and this event is open to the public; details at www.emanualnyc.org or call 212-744-1400.

During the Middle Ages in Europe, Spain became well-known for the coexistence of three religions and cultures: the native Christianism, Judaism, and the Muslim faiths; protected by the caliphs since the VIII century and up until the end of the XV century, together they forged the Spain of today. Sephardic music was born from the Jewish Spaniards who were installed in Castilla and Aragón and adapted popular Castilian songs until their expulsion in the times of the Catholic Kings. These songs were a fusion of Arab and Christian music: Arab in their rhythm and the instruments played, and Christian because they were sung in Castilian.

CAPELLA DE MINISTRERS, an ensemble group founded in 1987 in Valencia, Spain, by musicologist Carles Magraner (viola da gamba). The group’s primary goal is to restore Valencian musical culture. The Iberian composers promoted by Capella de Ministrers span a period of 500 years.

Official Website: http://www.emanualnyc.org