Scholarly Abstractions: Misa Criolla

Mitchell, Aaron. A Conductor’s Guide to Ariel Ramírez’s Misa Criolla..  Doctor of Musical Arts dissertation.  University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, 2009.

 

       Although Misa Criolla has been a popular work since the first recording was issued in 1964, until recently there has been little written about the work itself, or its composer, in part because of the unique and localized folk elements that constitute its compositional framework. Composer and pianist Ariel Ramírez spent much of his life studying the folk traditions of Argentina and infused those traditions into Misa Criolla. Composed on the heels of the second Vatican Council, the work, among the first mass settings in Spanish, quickly gave Ramírez an international presence.

       This conductor’s guide will focus on the practical issues that conductors face in preparing and presenting Misa Criolla. After establishing a background on the composer and his most popular composition, this guide will examine the traditional dance rhythms and song forms that create a structural backbone for each movement, providing examples from regional folk traditions. Primary areas addressed will also include a discussion and comparison of existing editions, problems associated with existing scores, instrumental parts, and the role of improvisation, as well as a detailed examination of conducting and rehearsal concerns and a comprehensive IPA transcription of the text. The aim of this document is to aid conductors in their efforts to present informed and successful performances of Misa Criolla.

 

(“Scholarly Abstractions” is a feature highlighting brief abstracts from recent graduate projects in choral music.  To share your thesis abstract, contact Scott Dorsey at )