ARS HISPANA is a non-profit cultural association founded in 2007. Its mission is to recover and promote Spanish musical heritage through lectures, editions, recordings, and concerts. To this end, it collaborates with various institutions and musical ensembles, helping to bring to light the rich Spanish and Hispano-American musical heritage from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
Our History
ARS HISPANA was founded in 2007, when musicologists Raúl Angulo and Antoni Pons joined forces to create an institution devoted to researching, editing, and disseminating unpublished works by Spanish composers from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Their first project focused on recovering a selection of works by the composer Juan Francés de Iribarren (1699–1767), which were performed at various music festivals between 2007 and 2008 by the ensemble Opera Omnia. Also with this ensemble, a CD featuring a selection of works by Diego Pérez de Camino (1738–1796) was released in 2007.
In 2009, the first musical editions were published: the Opera Omnia of José Español (c.1690–1758), the three-volume Selected Works of Diego Pérez de Camino (1738–1796), and the fully sung zarzuela Coronis by Sebastián Durón (1660–1716).
In 2010, publication of editions prepared by ARS HISPANA researchers began under the imprint of the Gustavo Bueno Foundation in Oviedo. More than 60 volumes of music have been published by this institution. Since 2017, ARS HISPANA has been publishing through its own editorial house.
Since its foundation, ARS HISPANA has collaborated with various Spanish ensembles and orchestras, bringing early Spanish music closer to interested audiences. Its main lines of research include the musicians who worked for the Royal Chapel of Madrid (Carlos Patiño, Sebastián Durón, José de Torres, Antonio Literes, José de Nebra, José Teixidor, etc.) and Baroque stage music. It also pays special attention to preserved 18th-century oratorios.
ARS HISPANA has received several awards and recognitions for its research and for its work in promoting Hispanic musical heritage.
Board of Directors
Raúl Angulo
President
Born in Logroño, Spain. Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Oviedo. Bachelor's degree in Musicology (University of La Rioja). Master in Hispanic Music (University of Salamanca). Professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid and researcher at the Instituto de Estudios Riojanos. Co-founder of Ars Hispana.
Maria Bayley
Vice-president
Born in Lisbon. Bachelor's degree in Harpsichord by the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. Master's degrees in Vocal Early Music and in Early Keyboards. Founder of Ars Lusitana ensemble.
Antoni Pons
Secretary
Born in Mallorca, Spain. Bachelor's degree in Baroque Flute by the Conservatory of Music of Murcia. Master in Hispanic Music (University of Salamanca). Co-founder of Ars Hispana.