Jordi Savall
Hespèrion XXI
La Capella Reial de Catalunya
and special guests
Songs, Battles, and Dances from the Old and the New World (1100–1780)
Jordi Savall, direction, program concept, and music selection
HESPÈRION XXI
Pierre Hamon, flutes
Lluís Coll, cornett
Béatrice Delpierre, flute and shawm
Daniel Lassalle, sackbut
Josep Borràs, dulcian
Jordi Savall, treble viol
Juan Manuel Quintana, tenor viol
Philippe Pierlot, basse viol
Xavier Puertas, violone
Paul Holmes Morton, theorbo and guitar
Andrew Lawrence-King, Spanish Baroque harp
David Mayoral, bells and percussion
LA CAPELLA REIAL DE CATALUNYA
Anna Piroli, soprano
Maëlys Robbine, soprano
David Sagastume, countertenor
Víctor Sordo, tenor
Lluís Vilamajó, tenor
Pieter Stas, bass
GUEST MUSICIANS
FROM CANADA
Neema Bickersteth, vocals (slave songs of Afro-American origin)
FROM GUADELOUPE
Yannis François, baritone and dance
FROM MEXICO
Tembembe Ensamble Continuo
Ada Coronel, vocals and dance
Ulises Martínez, violin, vihuela, leona, and vocals
Catalan viol virtuoso and musical polymath Jordi Savall returns to Cal Performances, joined by nearly two dozen musicians, including his celebrated ensembles Hespèrion XXI and La Capella Reial de Catalunya, and special guest performers from Mexico and Guadeloupe who place their rich musical traditions in dialogue with Spanish and European forms. This special program takes us on a sound journey that traces a map of influences that crossed between the Old and the New Worlds. Through three axes—song, battle, and dance—the repertoire explores how music served as a tool of faith, resistance, and survival during seven centuries of global transformations.
“[Savall] illustrates with striking detail the way that music served as an unbroken thread that traversed the Atlantic, a cultural fabric that flourishes to this day” (San Francisco Chronicle).
This event is part of Cal Performances’ Illuminations: “Exile & Sanctuary” programming for the 2025–26 season.
Songs, Battles, and Dances
from the Old and the New World (1100–1780)
| MARCABRU | Fanfare – Crusader song: Pax in nomini Domini – Planctus |
| DES PRÉS | Agnus Dei/Da pacem Domine from Missa Da pacem |
| SEPHARDIC TRADITION | El pan de la aflicción (Aramaic prayer in Ladino) |
| ALONSO | La tricotea Samartín la vea (Canzon alla Villota) |
| TRADITIONAL | Another man done gone (Slave song) |
| ATTAINGNANT | La Guerre (Pavane) |
| PARABOSCO | Ricercare XIV: Da pacem Domine |
| FLECHA, THE ELDER | La Negrina: San Sabeya gugurumbé |
| TRADITIONAL | Los Negritos/Gurumbé (Son Jarocho) |
| TRADITIONAL | Look over yonder (Slave song) |
| AGUILERA DE HEREDIA | Tiento de Batalla |
| FERRABOSCO | Four-note Pavan: Hear me, O God |
| FERNANDES | Tleycantimo choquiliya (Mestizo and Indian) |
| TRADITIONAL | You gonna reap what you sow (Slave song) |
| ROSSI | Psalm 137: ‘Al nàhärót bavél (By the Waters of Babylon) |
| JOHNSON/BRADE | The King’s Morisco |
| FERNANDES/ANONYMOUS | Xicochi conetzintlé (Villancico)/Xochipitzahuatl |
| DE ZÉSPEDES | Ay, que me abraso, ay (Guaracha) |
| TRADITIONAL | El Arrancazacate (son from Tixtla /Improvisations) |
| TRADITIONAL ISIXHOSA | Indodana (Spiritual song and prayer) |
| TYE | In Nomine XII: Crye |
| ANONYMOUS | Selections from the Codex Trujillo (Lima) Tonada El Congo: A la mar me llevan Tonada de El Chimo: Jaya llûnch Cachua serranita, nombrada El Huicho Nuebo: No ay entendimiento humano |
The Program Book will be available approximately one week before the performance.
There is a $15 per order service charge on single ticket purchases that partially underwrites the cost of our ticketing platform, credit card processing, Ticket Office staffing, and ticket delivery. To avoid this fee, tickets can be purchased in person at our Ticket Office during our regular office hours. Note: there is a $20 service charge for all subscription orders.
Beyond the Stage Related Posts
Jordi Savall
Hespèrion XXI
La Capella Reial de Catalunya
Tembembe Ensamble Continuo
Un Mar de Músicas (A Sea of Music)
* There is a $15 per order service charge on ticket purchases made by phone or online that are not part of a subscription package, and a $20 service charge on all subscription orders. There is no fee for tickets purchased in person at the Zellerbach Hall Ticket Office unless they are part of a subscription. This fee helps to underwrite the cost of providing services online and by phone, as well as programs needed for digital order delivery.