Singing in the City of the Angels
OUR PROJECT
Rediscovering 17th-Century Christmas Music from Puebla, Mexico
This recording brings to life the vibrant tradition of Christmas villancicos from 17th-century Puebla, Mexico—a cornerstone of devotional music in the Hispanic world. These songs were central to public celebrations across the Spanish and Portuguese empires, from Seville and Lisbon to Mexico City, Bogotá, and Manila.
At the heart of this project is Guatemalan composer Gaspar Fernández, whose Cancionero (a collection of 270 villancicos written between 1606 and 1629) remains the largest surviving work by a single composer in this tradition. While most villancicos were in Spanish, Fernández incorporated multiple languages and dialects, portraying biblical shepherds as Castilians, Portuguese, Basques, Africans, and Indigenous Nahuas—reflecting Puebla’s rich multicultural society.
A Window into Viceregal Mexico’s Cultural Exchange
Fernández’s villancicos reveal how Iberian Christmas rituals were transformed in the social and cultural landscape of colonial Puebla. Our recording highlights depictions of marginalized groups—particularly Indigenous Nahuas and enslaved Africans—uncovering musical and literary strategies that suggest the deep influence of Nahua and Afro-Diasporic traditions. By situating these performances within the lived experiences of Poblano communities, we show how the villancico was not just an Iberian art form but also a space where Indigenous and African-descended peoples preserved and adapted their cultural expressions within Christian frameworks.
A Collaborative Revival
Produced by the ensembles La Boz Galana and Concerto Scirocco, in collaboration with musicologist Ireri Chávez Bárcenas, this recording reimagines these villancicos as living testimonies of cross-cultural exchange. It serves as a sonic companion to Chávez Bárcenas’s forthcoming monograph on identity formation in viceregal Mexico.
As part of Fuga Libera’s (Outhere group) new Ibero-American music series—the first dedicated to the viceregal period—this project showcases Fernández’s inventive use of rhythm, texture, and language to dramatize the Nativity story for Puebla Cathedral’s diverse audiences.
Why This Matters Today
More than a historical reconstruction, this project challenges Eurocentric narratives in early music. By reviving Fernández’s overlooked repertoire, we amplify voices often marginalized in history. For modern listeners, it offers a glimpse into 17th-century Mexico’s cultural diversity, where Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities navigated, preserved, and reshaped their traditions under Spanish rule—subtly transforming New Spain’s soundscape through resilience and creativity.
This recording is a premiere—not only because it features some never-before-recorded pieces but also because it presents them through an intercultural lens, inviting a fresh understanding of early music’s global roots.
Support This Project
Your contribution will help us bring this forgotten musical heritage to audiences worldwide, fostering a deeper appreciation for the multicultural roots of Baroque music. Join us in celebrating this extraordinary chapter of history—one that resonates powerfully today.
We need your support to cover production costs, historical research, and global distribution. Your contribution will help:
• Record with period instruments and expert musicians.
• Create editions of the pieces and detailed liner notes with translations and historical context.
• Promote this music through concerts, lectures, and digital platforms.
This project is partially supported by Sulger-Stiftung, Claire Sturzenegger-Jeanfavre Stiftung, Fondazione Emiola and Bowdoin College.
______________
We are deeply grateful for the generous support we have received so far from institutions and foundations, which enables us to realise this project. However, as this is a large project, we are currently organising a crowdfunding campaign to help complete the expenses that such project implies.
You will find more information in the following link:
https://gofund.me/4cf1b8c2
If you prefer to contribute via a bank transfer, you can do so to this account:
UBS
Marktplatz 17
4051 Basel
IBAN: CH340023323382203340T
BIC: UBSWCHZH40A
Any contribution would be greatly appreciated, whether through donating (whatever you can afford!) or helping us spread the word! ♥️
Here are some special perks:
At the heart of this project is Guatemalan composer Gaspar Fernández, whose Cancionero (a collection of 270 villancicos written between 1606 and 1629) remains the largest surviving work by a single composer in this tradition. While most villancicos were in Spanish, Fernández incorporated multiple languages and dialects, portraying biblical shepherds as Castilians, Portuguese, Basques, Africans, and Indigenous Nahuas—reflecting Puebla’s rich multicultural society.
A Window into Viceregal Mexico’s Cultural Exchange
Fernández’s villancicos reveal how Iberian Christmas rituals were transformed in the social and cultural landscape of colonial Puebla. Our recording highlights depictions of marginalized groups—particularly Indigenous Nahuas and enslaved Africans—uncovering musical and literary strategies that suggest the deep influence of Nahua and Afro-Diasporic traditions. By situating these performances within the lived experiences of Poblano communities, we show how the villancico was not just an Iberian art form but also a space where Indigenous and African-descended peoples preserved and adapted their cultural expressions within Christian frameworks.
A Collaborative Revival
Produced by the ensembles La Boz Galana and Concerto Scirocco, in collaboration with musicologist Ireri Chávez Bárcenas, this recording reimagines these villancicos as living testimonies of cross-cultural exchange. It serves as a sonic companion to Chávez Bárcenas’s forthcoming monograph on identity formation in viceregal Mexico.
As part of Fuga Libera’s (Outhere group) new Ibero-American music series—the first dedicated to the viceregal period—this project showcases Fernández’s inventive use of rhythm, texture, and language to dramatize the Nativity story for Puebla Cathedral’s diverse audiences.
Why This Matters Today
More than a historical reconstruction, this project challenges Eurocentric narratives in early music. By reviving Fernández’s overlooked repertoire, we amplify voices often marginalized in history. For modern listeners, it offers a glimpse into 17th-century Mexico’s cultural diversity, where Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities navigated, preserved, and reshaped their traditions under Spanish rule—subtly transforming New Spain’s soundscape through resilience and creativity.
This recording is a premiere—not only because it features some never-before-recorded pieces but also because it presents them through an intercultural lens, inviting a fresh understanding of early music’s global roots.
Support This Project
Your contribution will help us bring this forgotten musical heritage to audiences worldwide, fostering a deeper appreciation for the multicultural roots of Baroque music. Join us in celebrating this extraordinary chapter of history—one that resonates powerfully today.
We need your support to cover production costs, historical research, and global distribution. Your contribution will help:
• Record with period instruments and expert musicians.
• Create editions of the pieces and detailed liner notes with translations and historical context.
• Promote this music through concerts, lectures, and digital platforms.
This project is partially supported by Sulger-Stiftung, Claire Sturzenegger-Jeanfavre Stiftung, Fondazione Emiola and Bowdoin College.
______________
We are deeply grateful for the generous support we have received so far from institutions and foundations, which enables us to realise this project. However, as this is a large project, we are currently organising a crowdfunding campaign to help complete the expenses that such project implies.
You will find more information in the following link:
https://gofund.me/4cf1b8c2
If you prefer to contribute via a bank transfer, you can do so to this account:
UBS
Marktplatz 17
4051 Basel
IBAN: CH340023323382203340T
BIC: UBSWCHZH40A
Any contribution would be greatly appreciated, whether through donating (whatever you can afford!) or helping us spread the word! ♥️
Here are some special perks:
- From €50: a pre-release, signed CD
- From €150: your name listed as a sponsor in the CD booklet
- From €1,000: a private concert by some members of the ensemble (only in Basel area)
Webmaster and design: Sebastian León - © La Boz Galana 2025
Foto: © Dirk Letsch
Foto: © Dirk Letsch