Gaspar Fernandes

Born in Portugal Fernandes became the master of the chapel in Antigua and later in Puebla. At one point his responsibilities included playing the organ, housing and teaching the choirboys and composing. Fernandes composed masses, magnificats and over 250 villancicos and chanzonetas. Oaxaca Cathedral holds the single largest concentration of 17th century secular music in the New World including a signed manuscript by Gaspar Fernandes. ~ Keith Johnson