VIllancico!

In a program entitled ¡Villancico!, Zorzal Music Ensemble will present Latin American and Spanish Christmas music on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 7:00 pm at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church located at 177 Princeton-Hightstown Road in Princeton Junction, New Jersey. Admission is free; free-will offerings will be accepted.

Zorzal features a vocal quintet, recorders, guitar, harpsichord, violoncello, and Latin American, Middle Eastern, and African percussion. Performers include Artistic Director Lynn Gumert and local musicians Kate Chen, Carlos Fernandez, Megan Helvering, Doug Helvering, Minju Lee, Momo Kusaka, Bob Ramos, and Janet Walker.

The concert traces the development of the villancico from its early 16th century Spanish origins, when it was defined as a simple strophic vocal song, through its  explosion into complex multi-voice religious works with instrumental accompaniment during the Baroque period, and up to its current incarnation as Christmas carols from Spanish-speaking regions.

According to Artistic Director Lynn Gumert, “the concert will feature colonial period “ethnic villancicos,” which celebrate cross-cultural influences. The influences go both ways—Spanish composers drew on African and Native American rhythms, while indigenous composers incorporated European four-part harmony.” Zorzal will perform several jubilant negritos—Spanish-style songs in African dialect that use African rhythms—that celebrate Christ’s birth through the vibrant rhythms of New World dances, as well as other pieces that draw on Native American, Roma, Galician, and Italian musical elements.  

            For more information, please contact: 609-490-0196.