Batalha de Sexto Tono

Spanish composer José Jiménez (orXiménez) is the composer of probably the oldest Batalha from the first part of the 17th century.

He was born in Zaragoza and got his first organ lessons from Sebastian de Hereda, the cvathedral organist there. From that moment on he stayed at the cathedral, first as second and later as first organist.

He wrote much music for the Eucharist. Apart from settings of hymns and psalms there survive some free organworks: two batalhas, one folia and one gaytilla.

Now this is a piece of Spanish organ music everyone will like, even the ones who usually don't.

This Batalha I got from a friend, who took lessons from outstanding Spanish organist Josep Giner, who studied in Spain and in Vienna.
His notes were still there.

A Batalha is a piece about military action:all aspects are vividly described in the music.
Josep wrote in his notes where the different parts of the action took place in THIS batalha.

But when I listened on Youtube and Spotify, I noticed that other Spanish organists did quite different things.

The story is thus open to interpretation, to say the least and Josep dreamed this one up himself.
Good for him!

That is what we need: musicians thinking for themselves and not slavishly following the directions of the Performance Practice Mafia.

So MY story of the battle is in the first comment.

Anyone whose fingers are twitching to write another one because I have it ALL WRONG is welcome to do so and post it.