Mary the Matador

This week's programme The Choir on BBC Radio 3 includes an interview with Jeffrey Skidmore and Ex Cathedra. (They have a fascinating repertoire. Together, they have recently recorded and sung South American music, much of it unknown to European ears including mine. See the review of "Latin American Vespers" performed at this year's Edinburgh Festival in the Guardian.)

The Radio 3 programme, available for three more days, includes an extraordinary piece of lively Bolivian Church music by composer Diego José de Salazar (1660-1799)—¡Salga el torillo hosquillo! -- subtitled "Guadalupe juegete." After the performance of the piece, Aled Jones, the host, said (47 minutes into the recording): "An unlikely image of the Virgin Mary as a matador victorious over the bull.." Apparently, in the song the bull represents (demonic) vices over which Mary triumphs.  When I get a full translation of the text, I'll post it here. In the meantime, here's another performance.