Bolivian Baroque

The study of the American music archives has changed our knowledge of musical culture in urban centres and missions between the 16th and 18th Centuries in the New World. European, Creole and native composers and musicians created a unique American, Renaissance and Baroque repertoire comparable in magnitude and originality to the sound innovations of the most renowned centres of musical life of Europe during the same periods of time.

In these three sessions Dr Piotr Nawrot and Professor Ashley Solomon will discuss how they personally became involved in the music from the Jesuit Missions in the 17th and 18th centuries, the impact this music had on the local inhabitants of these areas and how the music developed over the 80 years during the Jesuit’s active occupation in the area to the east of Bolivia in the numerous Jesuit Missions.