With Hyperion's Mortuus est Phillipus Rex: Music for the life and death of the Spanish King, featuring the Choir of Westminster Cathedral led by the redoubtable James O'Donnell, it is not the singer, nor the song, but the subject that is the focus of the argument: Castilian King Philip II of Spain. While it has been a matter of dispute among some scholars, conventional wisdom tells us that King Philip was the architect of Spain's "Golden Age" and a devoted patron to what became a flourishing culture in the latter half of ...
Read More
With Hyperion's Mortuus est Phillipus Rex: Music for the life and death of the Spanish King, featuring the Choir of Westminster Cathedral led by the redoubtable James O'Donnell, it is not the singer, nor the song, but the subject that is the focus of the argument: Castilian King Philip II of Spain. While it has been a matter of dispute among some scholars, conventional wisdom tells us that King Philip was the architect of Spain's "Golden Age" and a devoted patron to what became a flourishing culture in the latter half of the sixteenth century. When he breathed his last breath at age 71 on September 13, 1598, he could see the High Altar of his Basilica from his deathbed and would also have presumably been able to hear its choir. The matter of Philip and music is what is essayed here, and he had rather pious musical tastes; with relatively minor exceptions, O'Donnell and his excellent crew provide an emotional and varied portrait of the King through music he either paid for, was dedicated to him, or...
Read Less
Add this copy of Mortuus Est Philippus Rex to cart. $13.44, like new condition, Sold by Streetlight_Records rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Cruz, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2009 by HYPERION.