Misa Criolla

‘This is how it should sound’, wrote magazine Luister about Música Temprana’s recording of the Misa Criolla. The twenty-five-year-old ensemble hit the nail on the head and received the maximum score of 10 for this Latin American mass by Ariel Ramírez, which is now synonymous with Christmas. The other songs on the programme also bring a delightful exploration of folk music traditions, each adding warmth and passion to the Christmas atmosphere. The Misa Criolla is a masterpiece by composer Ariel Ramírez. He wrote the work in 1964 for two German nuns who had once given him shelter. The Vatican’s permission to use vernacular mass settings inspired him to create this vibrant work, in which the Spanish language and Latin American folk music take centre stage. The mass blossomed into a celebration of life, now performed worldwide during Christmas festivities.