Although this CD appears to be devoted to the chacona -- a New World dance imported to Spain in the sixteenth century -- the music is much more varied than the title suggests. Chacona: Renaissance Spain in the Age of Empire is a broad survey of song and dance styles prevalent in Spanish realms, reflecting influences from Moorish regions, the Canary Islands, and the Americas. The early music ensemble Ex Umbris provides examples of courtly and popular music under six headings -- Dance I, Love, Exile, Canario, The Ballad of Conde Claros, and Dance II -- a sensible arrangement for such a diverse program. All the performances are true to form and brilliantly executed, revealing deep scholarship and the virtuosic skills of the musicians on a wide array of instruments. Grant Herreid, Paul Shipper, and Tom Zajac are the core of Ex Umbris, and they are joined by guests Tina Chancey, Karen Hansen, Christa Patton, and Nell Snaidas. The expanded group handles the music sensitively and intimately, and only briefly flirts with vulgar raillery in the opening Gran Chacona and the closing Oy comamos y bebamos. With a highly informative booklet, this disc offers a pleasant exploration of the period's music and is recommended for early music connoisseurs and beginners alike. ~ Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide
