Diana Baroni
, a founder of the Baroque group
Cafe Zimmermann
, has released innovative albums both solo and with that group. However, nothing quite compares with the originality of
Mujeres
, beginning with the graphics in which a bouquet of sunflowers obscures
Baroni
's face. Foremost is that
both sings and plays the flute, or flutes, for there are several different kinds; some are played by
Rafael Guel Frias
, who also contributes Baroque guitars, percussion, and harmony singing. There is also a viola da gamba, played by
Ronald Martin Alonso
. The general kind of arrangement (if that's the right word -- no one is credited, and the music seems to be at least partly improvised) is like a Latin American version of the semi-classical folk song treatments of the 18th century that did much to transmit Irish and Scottish music down to the present day. The songs themselves are indeed mostly folk music, with some by named composers, including
Ariel Ramirez
(of
Missa Criolla
fame) and Chilean folk singer and activist
Violeta Parra
. Many are from Mexico; most are in Spanish, but there is a Nahuatl song and one in the Aymara language.
("women") are the general theme, but they are a varied group, including narrative pieces, devotional songs, romantic poems, and laments.
's flute and voice are a convincing unit, and she inhabits each song fully with the effect that each one seems like a little drama. An uncommon and uncommonly convincing release in the realm of classical music rooted in folksong. ~ James Manheim