Gaspar Fernandes

In 1590 Gaspar Fernandes seemed ready to follow the career tragectory of a capable musician in the Iberian Peninsula with his position of singer and organist at Evora Cathedral earning 5000 reis.  Yet 10 years later we find him, now a priest, settled in Guatemala at the Santiago Cathedral as the maestro de capella and organist at 400 pesos.  By 1606 knowledge of his abilities was so widespread in New Spain that the Chapter at Puebla Cathedral, Mexico, offered Fernandes 800 pesos to be the maestro and organist at Puebla, one of Mexico’s most imposing religious establishments. 

During his 20 year tenure at Puebla Fernandes composed and compiled the 278 magnificent works of the Oaxaca Manuscript, many of which represent the diversity of culture of 17th century Mexico . . . the indigenous tribes (Tlascalan, Nahuatl, etc), African elements, and the European influence.  Many of the pieces are lively spiritual villancicos written for Christmas and Corpus Christi, which were especially requested by the authorities and much appreciated by the populace.  It was a form already current in Spain (eg. Francisco Guerrero at Seville) and passed on by Fernandes to his successor at Puebla, Juan Gutierres de Padilla.  Gaspar Fernandes died in 1629.