Miguel Lawrence - Venice in Mexico: Concertos By Vivaldi & Facco

Mexico after the Spanish arrived saw a great deal of European art and culture being imported, including music from the great centers such as Venice. Not having harpsichords to hand, it became usual to use local instruments, vihuela and guitarron, for continuo. This policy is used here, and the sharp clear sound of the strings with the rhythmic base gives these works a new impetus and vitality. The Vivaldi pieces are fairly well known but the fine concertos by Facco were only discovered relatively recently.