Roger Bourland
writes about music and life

Josie introduced me to this composer. There are quite a few different performances you can find on YouTube, this one was especially spirited, but doesn’t allow embedding. The performance below features a nice performance by José Carreras.

Here are the program notes from the YouTube post:

Ariel Ramirez is one of South America’s most prominent composers. His 1964 composition “Misa Criolla” is a mass for tenor, mixed chorus, percussion, keyboard and Andean instruments.

Misa Criolla 1 - Kyrie

“Gloria” is the second movement.

Misa Criolla 3 - Credo

Misa Criolla 4 - Sanctus

Entirely based on traditional rhythms (chacarera, carnavalito, estilo pampeano), it is also one of the first masses to be celebrated in a modern language - being contemporary to the Second Vatican Council.

The Andean instruments are used throughout, but highlights are found at 0:00, 2:35, 3:00, 3:50 and 5:55-6:30. And you gotta love the passionate expression on the drummer’s face at 6:30.

Available on the 2006 DVD “José Carreras: Arias & Misa Criolla.”