ROMANCE & VILLANCICOS

Youtube performances from different editions

Juan del Encina (1468-1529) was a Jewish converso poet, composer, and playwright active during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs in 15th and 16th century Spain. These six songs from the huge collection entitled Cancionero de Palacio are elegant and expressive 4-voice examples of his work: a Romance–
Mi libertad en sosiego (My solitary freedom)
and five villancicos–
Gasajémonos de usía (Let’s party)
Hoy comamos y bebamos (Today let us eat and drink)
Más vale trocar placer por dolores (Better to trade pleasure for pain)
Tan buen ganadico (The Good Shepherd)
Fata la parte (Spread the news)

TOTAL DURATION FOR THE COMPLETE SET: about 20 minutes