Al Ayre Español is a vocal and

instrumental ensemble A musical ensemble, also known as a music group or musical group, is a group of people who perform instrumental and/or vocal music, with the ensemble typically known by a distinct name. Some music ensembles consist solely of instrumentalists, ...

specialized on

early music Early music generally comprises Medieval music (500–1400) and Renaissance music (1400–1600), but can also include Baroque music (1600–1750). Originating in Europe, early music is a broad musical era for the beginning of Western classical m ...

founded in 1988 by

harpsichordist A harpsichordist is a person who plays the harpsichord. Harpsichordists may play as soloists, as accompanists, as chamber musicians, or as members of an orchestra, or some combination of these roles. Solo harpsichordists may play unaccompanied son ...

Eduardo López Banzo Eduardo López Banzo is a Spanish harpsichordist and conductor of baroque music. López Banzo was born in Zaragoza, Spain. He studied harpsichord with Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam. In 1988 López Banzo founded the group Al Ayre Español, which sp ...

.Interview with Eduardo López Banzo o
www.odb-opera.com
/ref> The name of the ensemble was inspired by the title for a guitar

fugue In music, a fugue () is a contrapuntal compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject (a musical theme) that is introduced at the beginning in imitation (repetition at different pitches) and which recurs frequently in the c ...

of the

Calanda Calanda may refer to: * Calanda, Spain, a town in Aragon, Spain * Calanda (mountain) in Graubünden, Switzerland * Calanda Bräu, a brewery in Chur, Switzerland, now owned by Heineken International * ''Calanda'' (plant), a genus of the family Rub ...

, Aragón, composer

Gaspar Sanz Francisco Bartolomé Sanz Celma (April 4, 1640 (baptized) – 1710), better known as Gaspar Sanz, was a Spanish composer, guitarist, and priest born to a wealthy family in Calanda in the comarca of Bajo Aragón, Spain. He studied music, theolo ...

. In this fugue, he indicated the musician to play with "ayre español" (in the Spanish way). Banzo has done a great deal to restore the

Spanish Baroque The arts of the Spanish Baroque include: *Spanish Baroque painting *Spanish Baroque architecture ** Spanish Baroque ephemeral architecture *Spanish Baroque literature **''Culteranismo'' **''Conceptismo'' *Spanish Baroque art **Bodegón **Tenebrism ...

musical heritage and in recognition of this work, the group was awarded the

Premio Nacional de Música The National Music Award ( es, Premio Nacional de Música, links=no) is one of Spain's annual National Awards by the Ministry of Culture Ministry of Culture may refer to: *Ministry of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Sports (Albania) * Mini ...

by the Spanish Ministry of Culture. In 2004, Al Ayre Español became an orchestra, broadening out their repertory to encompass much of the European Baroque.

Discography

*1994 - ''Barroco Español - Vol. I: "Mas no puede ser"''. Villancicos. Cantatas et al.

Deutsche Harmonia Mundi Deutsche Harmonia Mundi (founded 1958) is a German classical music record label. It was founded by Rudolf Ruby and based in Freiburg, Breisgau. The company was acquired by BMG Music in 1992 and is now part of Sony Music Entertainment. Ruby had Alf ...

05472 77325 2 *1995 - ''Barroco Español - Vol. II: "Ay Amor"''.

Zarzuelas () is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular songs, as well as dance. The etymology of the name is uncertain, but some propose it may derive from the name of ...

. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 05472 77336 2 *1997 - José de Torres and Juan de Navas ''Barroco Español - Vol. III: "Quando muere el sol"''. Música penitencial en la Capilla Real de Madrid. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 05472 77376 2 *1998 -

Antonio de Literes Antoni de Literes (18 June 1673 Majorca – 18 January 1747 Madrid), also known as Antonio de Literes or Antoni Literes Carrión) was a Spanish composer of '' zarzuelas''. As with other national forms of baroque opera, Literes's stage wor ...

: '' Los Elementos''. Ópera armónica al estilo italiano. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 05472 77385 2 *1999 -

José de Torres José de Torres y Martínez Bravo (16701738) was a Spanish composer, organist, music theorist and music publisher. Biography Torres was born in Madrid, where he served as organist of the ''capilla real'' from 1697. With the arrival of the Bourbon ...

: ''Cantadas''. Spanish Solo Cantatas (18th century). Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 05472 77503 2 *1999 - ''Quarenta horas''. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 74321 72619 2 *2001 - Antonio de Literes: ''

Acis y Galatea ''Acis y Galatea'' is a zarzuela by Antonio de Literes to a libretto by José de Cañizares. It was first performed on 19 December 1708 in Madrid at the theatre in the Buen Retiro Palace for the 25th birthday of King Philip V.José de Nebra José Melchor Baltasar Gaspar Nebra Blasco (January 6, 1702 – July 11, 1768) was a Spanish people, Spanish composer. His work combines Spanish traditions with the Italian style of his day. Biography José de Nebra was born in Calatayud and was ...

: ''Miserere''. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 05472 77532 2 *2003 - Antonio de Literes: ''

Júpiter y Semele '' El estrago en la fineza, Júpiter y Semele'' is a Spanish-language zarzuela opera by Antonio de Literes to a libretto by José de Cañizares, premiered 9 May 1718 at the Teatro de la Cruz The Teatro de la Cruz was, during its nearly 200-year ...

''. Júpiter y Semele o El estrago en la fineza. Harmonia Mundi Ibérica 987036.37 (2 CDs) *2004 - ''A Batallar Estrellas''. Música de las Catedrales españolas del s. XVII. Harmonia Mundi Ibérica 987053 *2005 - ''La Cantada Española en América''. Harmonia Mundi Ibérica 987064 *2006 - José de Nebra: ''Arias de Zarzuelas''. Harmonia Mundi Ibérica 987069 *2007 -

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training i ...

: ''

Amadigi di Gaula ''Amadigi di Gaula'' ( HWV 11) is a "magic" opera in three acts, with music by George Frideric Handel. It was the fifth Italian opera that Handel wrote for an English theatre and the second he wrote for Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington in ...

'', opera. Ambroisie AM 133 *2008 - Handel: ''

Rodrigo Rodrigo is a Spanish, Portuguese and Italian name derived from the Germanic name ''Roderick'' (Gothic ''*Hroþareiks'', via Latinized ''Rodericus'' or ''Rudericus''), given specifically in reference to either King Roderic (d. 712), the last Vis ...

'', opera. Ambroisie AM 132 *2011 - José de Nebra: ''Esta dulzura amable. Sacred Cantatas.'' Challenge *2012 - ''Handel Memories". A selection from Grand Concertos op. 6''. Challenge *2015 -

Georg Friedrich Händel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training ...

- ''To all Lovers of Musick'' Sonatas Op. 5 (Challenge Classics CC72663) *2019 -

- Trio Sonatas Op. 2 (Challenge Classics CC72797)

References

External links

*A.A.E's website: http://www.alayreespanol.com *Goldberg: https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235722/http://www.goldbergweb.com/en/interpreters/orchestras/19182.php
''Harmonia Mundi''Recordings.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Al Ayre Espanol Early music orchestras Musical groups established in 1988