Coinciding with the 200th anniversary of Emilio Arrieta, this recording brings together, for the first time, an unknown collection that has fundamental importance in helping to understand one of the key figures of Spanish musical history. The result of long and complex research, the recording also includes three songs that were only catalogued and identified in late 2021 from the recently restored documentary material of the Lucio Gil de Fagoaga Foundation in Requena (Valencia). Although certain preconceptions of Spain’s own musical heritage continue to represent a major obstacle to understanding and appreciating it, I trust that the recovery and dissemination of Emilio Arrieta’s vocal chamber music contributes to raising the profile of Spanish repertoire to the place it deserves and serves to improve it.
