Though things are slowly improving, some events are indicative of the lack of interest generated until recently by Spain’s musical heritage. One such incident was the appearance of a news item in 1975 in a prestigious German musicology review. This related to the discovery of a manuscript including ten psalms by Tomás Luis de Victoria, twice as many as hitherto known, some of which had rubrics in the composer’s own handwriting. Had this been to do with anything by Lasso, Byrd or Palestrina there would have been an immediate global response, but as it had to do with Victoria the response took 28 years, which is when Esteban Hernández published a meticulous edition of the manuscript repertoire. In order to hear this one had to wait a further five years.

A psalm may be regarded as the smallest musical element within the liturgy, though still fulfilling a significant role within the Offices. It is the very last type of work a composer would approach as a showcase for his brilliance unless his style tended towards the concise. This is very much the case with Victoria and his aesthetic is displayed in all its purity in this collection of ten jewel-like pieces. This is Victoria pared down to the essential, and it combines perfectly with a similarly streamlined choral formation, one voice to one instrument. If at times this approach has been judged too meagre to give fullness to some of the great works by this maestro from Avila, in this instance it is quite the contrary. Despite the transposition that was necessary, this is a magnificent performance by La Colombina. MARICARMEN GÓMEZ