Galant Style and Symphonies by F. J. Haydn in the Music Chapel of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral ruled by the maestro de capilla Melchor Lopez (1783-1822): The Renewal of the Instrumental Repertoire

Abstract

At the same time as Melchor López was carrying out his teaching duties within the music chapel of the cathedral of Santiago (1783-1822), the renovation of his orchestra was undertaken to the point of accomplishing a stable symphony orchestra of the classical sort which had long been firmly established in Central Europe. This greatly influenced the maestro’s music, having studied in Madrid and admirer of F.J. Haydn’s music, where the precise orchestral accompaniment for solo voices and for choirs became the central part of his works and made possible the renovation of the instrumental repertoire which was being used in the liturgy (Masses, Vespers) and on other occasions for paraliturgy functions such as the siestas celebrated during the octave of Corpus. Within this renovation, the reception of Haydn’s influence was especially important: his symphonies arrived at the cathedral in the 1790s and are perhaps the most representative element of this renovation which the aforementioned repertoire underwent.