COMES: O Pretiosum, Music for the Blessed Sacrament [CD de audio] Coro Amystis and Comes

Juan Bautista Comes (1582-1643) is one of the most significant composers of the early Spanish Baroque, uniting elements of the Renaissance style with the emerging techniques and tastes of the Baroque. He was a famous musician of his time and held the prestigious position of chapelmaster of the Valencia Cathedral. Since 1437 this cathedral kept the Holy Chalice, the cup that Jesus used at the Last Supper, so Comes wrote extensively for the Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament. In addition to the sacred motets, this new recording contains a selection of carols, choral works written in the vernacular, based on popular music, written with the aim of making the liturgy more understandable for the people. They were written in a polychoral style, giving a theatrical and monumental character to the text and music. Excellent performances by the Spanish vocal ensemble Amystis Chamber Choir, which has already successfully recorded the complete choral works of Cabanilles for Brilliant Classics (BC94781). The booklet contains program notes and the original sung texts.