Latin Polyphony in the Early Spanish Baroque: Suggestions for Stylistic Criteria

Abstract

This article focuses on the principal stylistic features in selected Latin works by Mateo Romero (Maestro Capitán), in order to suggest some basic guidelines for the generic and stylistic diversity of the Latin corpus in the early Spanish baroque. It essentially demonstrates how, on the one hand, Romero's contrapuntal works in the supposedly 'estilo antiguo' are substantially modified, and how, on the other, traditional features are retained within his works in the 'new style'. A special emphasis is given to Romero's polychoral works, which exemplify the most 'progressive' polychoral trend in the early Spanish baroque.