La Capilla de Música de Santa María de Viana, Navarra (siglos XVI-XIX)

Abstract

The Music Chapel of the Parish Church of Santa María in Viana (Navarre) started to take shape in the second half of the 16th century and consisted of singers and instrumentalists hired by the church and paid from its funds. This Chapel reached its greatest splendour in the 17th century and employed such a number of musicians that it could even be compared to a cathedral chapel. Other instruments aside, the organ deserved special attention. The musical repertoire of the Chapel of Viana included works by great Spanish and foreign polyphonists. This musical group was suppressed at the end of the 17th century as a result of the important architectural modifications to the church, but saw the light again in...