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Navidad Ibérica: Spanish Christmas Music and Villancicos from the Renaissance Ensemble Corund Chamber Choir Dorian Recording (DOR-93249) Spanning several composers over 100 years, Navidad Ibérica is a pleasing collection of Christmas villancicos (two-part, multi-voice songs popular in the 15th and 16th centuries) and similar pieces from the Spanish Renaissance. Many of the pieces are choral, with distinct parts for each voice, while others consist of voices in one or two ranges with instrumental accompaniment. The former, in particular, is a set of pieces by Francisco Guerrero (1589), and resemble the devotional music of the period. A highlight of this section is "Virgen sancta" ("Holy Virgin"), a song which features a strong rhythm accentuated by drums, and a delightful, gradually falling melodic motive. There is, in general, a softness to Guerrero's work here; he blends the different voices into a fluid whole without muddying the depths. The mid 16th-century pieces, in contrast, are closer to their popular roots, with distinct melodic counterpoints, often with instrumental accompaniment. The pieces from Thomás Luis de Victoria, are particularly beautiful. His "Ne timeas Maria" ("Do not be afraid, Mary") is especially compelling, as is "O magnum mysterium" ("How great a mystery"). The latter served as a foundation for a Mass, which is also included as the final six tracks of this collection. Whether or not one celebrates Christmas from a devotional perspective, this gentle music is about as anti-commercial as one can get. --Genevieve Williams

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