MORE HISPANO

MORE HISPANO was founded in 1998. Their debut recording was entirely devoted to Bartolomé de Selma y Salaverde (Canzoni, Fantasie et Correnti). Its members have studied at the conservatoria of Seville, The Hague, Amsterdam, Esmuc (Barcelona) and the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. They have appeared at several festivals such as Seville's Noches en los Jardines del Real Alcázar and Early Music Festival, Aranjuez's Early Music Festival or the Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht in the Netherlands as well as numerous other festivals all over Europe. MORE HISPANO is founding member of AEGIVE, the Spanish Association of Specialised Instrumental and Vocal Groups.

MORE HISPANO is currently offering both new and refreshing approaches to Renaissance repertoire, which include making their own embellishments, counterpoint lines and, most important, improvisations - something almost completely unheard-of in today's early music performance - and they have quite a unique repertoire.

Thanks to the communication capabilities emerged while improvising, this innovative and fresh approach has always found a warm reception from audiences.

The ensemble takes its name from the Latin expression more hispano that means 'in spanish style'. It can be found in several motets and missae collections by some of the most important authors from Renaissance Spain like Tomás Luis de Victoria or Francisco Guerrero. This expression indicated, usually, the use of typically Spanish melodies such as Pange Lingua or Vexilla Regis. In addition, it refers to the late 15th century improvisatory practices including the so-called "more hispano performances" of the Passions.