Notes for an approach to the repertoire of San Sebastián Lemoa

Abstract

The eight musical compositions knc»vn as the San Sebastián Lemoa, Repertory are contained in one Of the extant examples of a conversation book written by a Mayan Indian in both K' iche' and Spanish. The  document autographed by Thomas Calbo, of San Sebastián Lemoa, Quiché, in northwest Guatemala, and bears the date 1726. The original manuscript copy was acquired around 1930 by banker and philanthropist Robert Garrett, who donated it to Princeton Universtty in New Jersey, in 1942. The transcription of the music contained in the document was carried out by the author of this article, in 1998. Seven pieces belong to the Hispanic Baroque "villancico" genre, while the eighth a settmg of the Agnus Dei. The size and features of the manuscript make evident that they were not written down for the practical purpose of performance. These facts lead to quesuons such as whether the author of the book is also the author of the musical compositions and, if not, what his sources may have been. The arucle goes on to deal with relevant social processes in the territories away from the main musical centres in colonial times, the contemporary of these manuscripts and a technical note on the only existing recording of this music.