Jordi Savall, Hespèrion XXI, La Capella Reial De Catalunya - Granada 1013 - 1502 (2016)

One of Catalan viol player Jordi Savall's grand historical projects, Granada: 1013-1526 comes with a booklet that weighs in at 280 pages (it does repeat the same material in six different languages). You can learn a lot about the history of Spain during what is called the Golden Age, as it seesawed between Islamic and Christian control. The multicultural nature of the city involved not only Muslim Arabs, Christians, and Jews, but also Berbers, whose dynasties ruled the city during the first part of this period. The dates 1013 and 1526 reflect the establishment of the modern city by the Berber Zirid dynasty and the final recension of the Alhambra Decree, paving the way for persecution and expulsion of Muslims and Jews. Along the way is a host of historical events, including (perhaps of particular interest to American listeners) the voyages of Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colón), whose diary is one of several musically accompanied readings Savall includes in the program. Thus, like many of Savall's albums, this one can be approached on several levels. There's the sensuous beauty of the music itself, with Savall's basic groups enhanced by singers from Israel, Europe, and the Arab world. There's the belief in the ability of music to reflect a vast sweep of history. And there's the ingenuity in drawing on a variety of sources -- narratives, dances, religious music, ceremonial pieces -- in order to realize that ambitious aim. Another triumph from Savall and company.