Arauxo: Facultad Organica

Description

The few available biographical data tell us that Francisco Correa de Arauxo (or de Acevedo) was born in Seville and baptized probably in September 1584. He was appointed organist of the Salvador, the second church in Seville, in 1599, and ordained priest probably in 1608.

After several unsuccessful attempts to become organist of the Cathedral, he accepted an offer to take the main position at the Cathedral of Segovia and remained there until his death, in spite of invitations by the Chapter of Seville to return home and take the office he had always wanted. He is buried in the Cathedral of Segovia.

Not unlike J.S. Bach, Correa gives the image of an artist inbetween times, with one foot in tradition and establishment, and the other in revolution and novity. We must recognize the amazing beauty and genius of his music, a genius which sets him apart from all other Spanish, just as Frescobaldi from all other Italians, Grigny from all other French and Bach from all other German composers of their times. The Facultad Organica was published in 1626. This Urtext edition, edited by Guy Bovet, is based on the Brussels copy; doubtful passages have been compared with the two copies of the Madrid Biblioteca Nacional.