Saint Francis of Assisi is one of the most universal figures in Western history, venerated not only by the Catholic tradition but also by Protestant and Orthodox communities, as well as by many non-Christians drawn to his message of poverty, fraternity, and love for creation. This recording offers a sonic journey through the 13th and 14th centuries, focusing on the spiritual and intellectual context of the Order of Friars Minor on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of his death (1226-2026).
The Ritual and the Cycle of Life that shape the repertory of Capella de Ministrers transcend cultural boundaries through the profound common root of the Mediterranean peoples. For centuries this mare nostrum has been a meeting ground, a space of coexistence for Jewish, Sephardic, Arab, Turkish, Greek, and many other communities, who shared languages, customs, and music in a web of exchanges and cross-fertilizations. After the expulsion of the Sephardic Jews from Spain in 1492, their communities maintained and enriched their musical and social traditions in their new settlements around the Mediterranean basin. Out of this arose a musical culture of great richness and diversity, expressed in many tongues-Hebrew, Arabic, Turkish, Bulgarian, Ladino-emblems of coexistence and dialogue among diverse peoples. Music is a universal language, able to convey sorrow, hope, spirituality, and the daily life of those who perform and share it. It is living testimony of collective memory and a tool of social cohesion. When we evoke places such as Casablanca, Salonika, Sofia, Ferrara, Venice, Odessa, Istanbul, Tangier, Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli, Alexandria, Smyrna, or Jerusalem, we are giving voice to a common cultural memory and celebrating the dignity and historical wealth of the peoples of the Mediterranean. This Ritual, born of crossroads and of shared histories, embodies plurality, coexistence, and the integrative force of culture, standing against oblivion, genocide, and exclusion. To honor this legacy is itself an act of historical recognition and a pledge for coexistence, peace, and dialogue among cultures.
Soundscape of the Corpus Christi procession in Valencia (17th-18th centuries) The Feast of Corpus Christi, established in 1264 by Pope Urban IV, became one of Valencia's most important and magnificent celebrations. It's origins are tied to a Eucharistic miracle that occurred in Valencian territory-the Miracle of the Corporals of Llutxent-Daroca around 1239. This connection helped Valencia become one of the first cities in the Iberian Peninsula to organize a general Corpus Christi procession, beginning in 1355. By the 17th century, the celebration had evolved into a grand public spectacle, rich in music, theatre, and ritual. On the eve of the feast, a parade called the Cavalcada del Convit invited the populace to participate, while the afternoon featured traditional religious theatre in Valencian (els Misteris) and choreographed dances commissioned for the procession. The main procession was a stunning display involving the whole of Valencian society-from guilds to the highest civic, royal, and ecclesiastical authorities. A rich musical tapestry accompanied every step: folk instruments like the dolcainaand tabal, dramatic theatre music, ceremonial city bands, plainchant from clergy, and elaborate polyphony performed by the Cathedral's chapel. In 1672, municipal musician Josep Gomar compiled a manuscript preserving the texts and music of these plays and rituals. Today, this music offers a rare glimpse into the soundscape of baroque Valencia. This concert brings those sounds back to life, allowing audiences to relive the awe and splendor of the city's most cherished feast. Imagine yourself on a Valencian street in the late 1600s, watching and hearing the vibrant procession pass by-an unforgettable journey into the soul of a city's tradition.
