ArteMandoline Baroque Ensemble
From Naples to Madrid
A journey through classical and popular music between the Kingdom of Naples and the Spanish Court
Juan Carlos Muñoz Baroque mandolin
Mari Fe Pavón Baroque mandolin
Manuel Muñoz Baroque guitar
Hilde Skomedal Baroque cello
Sybille Roth harpsichord
Fandango, dances, marizápalos, tarantelle, folias by
Santiago de Murcia, Andrea Falconieri, Lucas Ruiz de Ribayaz and anonymous
Of all the instruments, the mandolin best illustrates the close and fruitful connections between Naples and Madrid, and between Italy and Spain, in the Baroque period. This plucked string instrument existed in both cultured and popular forms, and its popularity soared in the 17th and 18th centuries. It could be heard in public squares as well as in stately homes, where it was favoured by nobles and the bourgeoisie. Through rigorous research into sources such as scores, treatises, historical instruments, and iconographic evidence, Juan Carlos Muñoz and Mari Fe Pavón have tirelessly unearthed a repertoire from those centuries. With the ensemble they founded twenty years ago, they breathe new life into it, combining historical expertise with the expressiveness and creativity of modern performers.
