DINASTIA BORGIA - Church and Power in the Renaissance
La Capella Reial de Catalunya
Hesperion XXI
Direccion: Jordi Savall
Recording Date and Place : Septiembre octubre y noviembre de 2009. 1991/1998/2006 Collegiale de Cardona (Cataluna). Iglesia de Franc-Waret (Belgica). Monasterio de Santa Maria del Parral de Segovia.
Available format: SACD Hybrid Multichannel Stereo
Booklet languages: English, Castellano, Catala, Italiano
Coinciding with the 500th anniversary of the birth of Saint Francis Borgia, Fourth Duke of Gandia, Jordi Savall and Alia Vox offer a visually lavish and artistically comprehensive new release entitled Dinastia Borgia. Savall’s latest musicological / historical quest focuses on music from the time of the Borgia dynasty, including works by composers such as Isaac, Dufay and Morales, from Pope Alexander VI/6 and two of his children, Cesare and Lucrezia, through to Francis Borgia, Jesuit priest and, perhaps, composer.
For five centuries, scholars have studied and debated the role of the Borgias in Renaissance history. Although their name is synonymous with Papal corruption and they were undoubtedly malevolent and immoral, as patrons of the arts, the Borgias were also instrumental in the period’s explosive growth of culture.
The fascinating story of their life and legacy (both good and evil) still has the power to inspire the imagination. With this dramatic historical and artistic backdrop, Savall and his fellow musicians shed new light on this unique (and at times bloody) era in Western history, revealing first-rate musicians, the vital role of original instruments in performing this type of music and the importance of reconstructing original scores. Above all, it reflects the multi-faceted talents of Jordi Savall as director, researcher and performer.
The Borgia family originated from Valencia in Spain and became prominent during the Renaissance in Italy, especially when Rodrigo, a cunning intriguer, was elected Pope in 1492, taking the name Alexander VI. He had several acknowledged children, of which Lucrezia and Cesare were best known. The Borgias have been accused of many different crimes, generally on considerable evidence, including adultery, simony, theft, rape, bribery, incest, and murder (especially murder by arsenic poisoning.
Cesare, with his father's backing, tried to become the ruler of Italy. But in 1503, Pope Alexander died suddenly. Cesare's intrigues collapsed, and he went off to Spain. Lucrezia was also rumoured to be a notorious poisoner. She married three times, and after the fall of her father and brother, remained the respected consort of the Duke of Ferrara. Saint Francis Borgia was a grandson of Rodrigo through another son, Giovanni.
After a career in the service of the kings of Spain, he entered the priesthood and became a Jesuit. He eventually rose to be the third Father General of the order.
Thanks to the elite ensembles Hesperion XXI and La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Jordi Savall delivers the soundtrack of a time during which cruelty and beauty were mixed as never before.
DISC1 : Paths to power: the origins and expansion of a dynasty ca. 1238 - 1492
I. The origins and rise of the Borgia family
1063 - Muslim Valencia
Mowachah Billadi Askara Min adbi Llama
1238 - Conquest of Valencia by James I
Ductia (CSM 123) instr.
1378 - Birth of Alfonso de Borja, the future Pope Callistus III
Saltarello - Guillaume Dufay / Jordi Savall
1417 - End of the Western Schism
Da Pacem - Gilles Binchois
1423 - Alfonso the Magnanimous’s military expeditions to Naples
Deserts d’amichs, de bens e de senyor (rec.)
1431 - Birth of Rodrigo de Borja
Rondeau (instrumental) “Ce jour” - Guillaume Dufay / Jordi Savall
1438/42 - King Alfonso V to Italy: To the conquest of Naples
Strambotto-caccia: Correno multi cani - Anonymous (Montecassino Songbook)
1442 - Naples, capital of the Crown of Aragon
Zappay lo campo (instr.) - Anonymous (Montecassino Songbook)
1444 - Alfonso de Borja is appointed cardinal
Ave Maris Stella - Guillaume Dufay
1453 - Fall of Constantinople
Makam Muhayyer “Kume” usules Duyek - Acemler - (War turkish march)
II. The demise of the Three Cultures and the conquest of power: the Vatican
1455 - Alfonso de Borja is Pope Callistus III. He proclaims the Crusade against the Turks
Exultet caelum cum laudibus - Anonymous (Montecassino Songbook)
1456 - Callistus III revokes the sentence of the trial of 1431 condemning Joan of Arc
Adoramus te - Anonymous (Montecassino Songbook)
1455-58 - Ferrante I, King of Naples
Viva, viva Rey Fernando - Anonymous (Montecassino Songbook)
1458 - King Alfonso V dies on 27th June and Callistus III dies on 6th August
Miserere nostri / Vexilla regis - Anonymous (Montecassino Songbook)
1459 - Death of Ausias March
La gran dolor (rec.) - Ausias March
1474 - Birth of Cesare Borgia
El cervel mi fa (instr.) - Anonymous
1478 - Sixtus VI excommunicates Lorenzo “the Magnificent”
Patres nostris peccaverunt - Johannes Cornago
1480 - Birth of Lucrezia Borgia
De Tous biens plaine - Haine van Guizeghem / Josquin Des Prez
1489 - Prince Djem, the brother and rival of Bayazid II, a hostage in the Vatican
Anonymous Ottoman - Taksim & Dance
January 1492 - The end of the Kingdom of Granada
Viva el Gran Rey Don Fernando - Carlo Verardi
April 1492 - Death of Lorenzo de’ Medici “the Magnificent”
Lamento per la morte di Lorenzo Il Magnifico - Heinrich Isaac
July 1492 - The Jews are expelled from Spain
Romance: La rosa enflorece - Anonymous Sefardi
DISC2 : Supremus est mortalibus: The culmination and end of a dream 1492 - 1509
III. The culmination and end of a dream
August 1492 - Rodrigo Borja is elected Pope, taking the name of Alexander VI
Salve regis Mater / Hic sacerdos - Marbriano de Orto
1493 - Alexander VI gives refuge to the Jews of Sepharad
Hebrew song of peace Adonay - Anonymous (Sinagogal Song)
1493 - Marriage of Lucrezia Borgia to Giovanni Sforza
Elogio de Lucrecia - B. Accolti (rec.)
1495 - Deaths of Prince Djem & J. Ockeghem
Deploration pour la mort de J. Ockeghem - Josquin Des Prez
1496 - Capitulation of the Viceroy of Naples
Fortuna desperata - Anonymous
1497 - Murder of Giovanni Borgia, Duke of Gandia
Absalon fili mi - Josquin Des Prez
1498 - Lucrezia marries Alfonso of Aragon
Un cavalier di Spagna - Anonymous
23 May 1498 - Torture and execution of Savonarola
Drums & bells
1498 - Birth of Rodrigo, the son of Lucrezia and Alfonso
Une musique de Buscaye (instr.) - Josquin Des Prez
1499 - Cesare Borgia marries Charlotte of Albret
Donna contro la mia voglia - Philippus de Lurano
31 .10.1501 - Eclogues to Rome. The black legend.
Villancico: Si abra en estre baldres - Juan del Enzina
July 1503 - Lucrezia meets the poet and Humanist Pietro Bembo
Soneto: Amor la tua virtute - Arcadelt / Bembo
18.08.1503 - Fatal illness and death of Alexander VI
Requiem - Josquin Des Prez
IV. The age of upheavals and Humanism: the Sibyl and the Prophecies of the Book of Revelation
1505 - Lucrezia Duchess of Ferrara
Pavana alla Ferrarese - Joan Ambrosio Dalza
1506 - Lucrezia at the court of Ferrara
Eloge de la duchesse de Ferrara (rec.) - Fondraglia
1507 - Death of Duke Valentine (Cesare Borgia) during the siege of Viana
Epitafio: Aqui yaze en poca tierra - Fernandez de Oviedo
- Lament for the death of Cesare
Castalios latices ploranda (rec.) - Ercole Strozzi
1508 - Murder of Ercole Strozzi, Lucrezia’s confidant
Agnus Dei (Missa Hercules Rex) - Josquin Des Prez
- The trumpets of the Apocalypse
Fanfaria - Jordi Savall
The Song of the Valencian Sibyl - Anonymous / Gandia Songbook
- Refrains: Alonso and Bartomeu Carceres
- Al jorn del judici
- D’una Verge naixera
- Mostrar-s’han quinze senyals
- D’alt dels cels devallara
- Portara cascu escrit
- Als bons dara goig etern
- Mare de Deu pregau per nos
- Vosaltres tots que escoltau
DISC3 : From the turbulent “reign” of Alexander VI to the spiritual triumph of St Francis Borgia 1510 - 1572 (1671)
V. Battles and truces: military and political responsibilities
1510 - Birth of Francisco de Borja
Fantasia I (harp) - Lluis del Mila
1515 - Francis I is King of France. Victory of Marignan
La Batalla (instr.) - Janequin / Susato
1519 - Death of Lucrezia. Death of Emperor Maximilian
Motet: Proch dolor - Josquin Des Prez
1520 - War of the Guilds
La guerra: Todos los buenos soldados - Mateu Flecha
1526 - Ferdinand of Aragon is installed at Valencia
Fantasia II (harp) - Lluis del Mila
- The Court of the Duke of Calabria
Tau garco la durundena - Bartomeu Carceres
1529 - Marriage of Francisco de Borja to Eleanor de Castro
Meis olhos van por lo mare - Anonymous Portuguese
1536 - Garcilaso de la Vega dies in the arms of Francisco de Borja
Egloga III (1536) Aquella voluntad honesta y pura (rec.)
- Garcilaso de la Vega
1538 - Truce of Nice between Francis I and Charles V
Jubilate Deo omnis terra - Cristobal de Morales
1539 - Francisco de Borja is appointed Viceroy of Catalonia
Pavana “O voy” - Juan Roman (C. M. Palacio)
VI. Renunciation and spiritual transformation
1549 - Profession of faith
Credo in unum Deum - Francesc Borja (attributed)
1550 - Departure from Gandia
Kyrie I (harp) - Venegas de Henestrosa
1555 - Meeting with Teresa of Avila
Alma buscarte has en Mi - Teresa de Jesus
1555 - Francisco de Borja is present at the death of Joanna the Mad (at Tordesillas)
Lachrimosa dies illa - Cristobal de Morales
1556 - Abdication of Charles V
Mille regrets - Josquin Des Prez / Luys Narvaez
VII. Final years, death and canonization of Francisco de Borja
1565 - The Turks attack Malta
Improvisation & Dance - Traditional Turkish, anonymous.
1571 - Victory of Lepanto
Fanfare - Anonymous
24.08.1572 - Journey to Paris. St Bartholemew’s Day Massacre
Psalm 35: Deba contre mes debateurs - Claude Goudimel
30.09.1572 - Death of Francisco de Borja
Requiem: Pie Jesu Domine - Cristobal de Morales
22.09.1609 - Edict of expulsion of the Moriscos
El Rey y por S.M. Don Luis Carrillo (rec.) - Page 34 (Valencia 1611)
- Lament for the expulsion of the Moors
Improvisation - Moorish Lament
1671 - Canonization of Francisco de Borja
Pange Lingua gloriosi (Gregorian) - Anonymous
