Craig H.

Russell

MANUEL DE SUMAVA: Reexamining the

a Cappella Choral Music of a Mexican Master

In 1710 the deteriorating eyesight of chapelmaster Antonio de Salazar

necessitated that he find an assistant to help with his musical obligations
and teaching duties at the Mexico City Cathedral and the Public School
(Escoleta Publica). Overriding a seniority system that would have placed
Francisco de Atienza y Pineda as his right-hand man, Salazar chose as
1
his assistant his own aspiring pupil, Manuel de Sumaya. Instead of

1 I would like to express my deepest thanks to Robert Snow for having sent me facsimiles
of the pieces discussed in this article years ago when I first developed an interest in Su
maya and his music. I am indebted to his profound generosity and tireless encourage
ment.
For biographical studies of Sumaya and his work, consult the publications by Robert
Stevenson: "Baroque Music in Oaxaca Cathedral: Mexico's Most Memorable Indian
Maestro," In/er-American Music Review (IAMRJ 1/2 (Spring-Summer, 1972), pp. 179
203, esp. pp. 196-202; "Manuscritos de Musica Colonial Mexicana en el Extranjero," part
I, He/ero(onEa V/25 (July-Aug., 1972), pp. 4-10; "Manuscritos de Musica Colonial
Mexicana en el Extranjero," part 2, He/er%nEa V/26 (Sept.-Oct., 1972), pp. 4-7;" Mexi
can Baroque Polyphony in Foreign Libraries," lAMR IX/I (Fall-Winter, 1987), pp. 55-64,
esp. pp. 59-62; Mexico CilY Ca/hedral Music. 1600-1750, reprint from The Americas
XXI/2 (October, 1964) (Washington, D.C.: Academy of American Franciscan History,
[1964'))); Music in Mexico: A His/orical Survey (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1952),
esp. pp. 149-53; "La Musica en cl Mexico de los siglos XVI a xvm," in La Mz';sica de
Mexico, ed. Julio Estrada, 1. J-fistoria, 2. Periodo Virreinal (J530 a 1810J (Mexico:
UNAM, 1986), pp. 7-74, esp. pp. 55, 66-67; "La musica en la Catedral de Mexico: 1600
1750," Revisla Musical Chilena no. 92 (April-June, 1965), pp. 11-31; and "Manuel de
Zumaya en Oaxaca," He/er%nEa no. 64 (Jan.-Feb., 1979), pp. 3-22.
Recently, the Peruvian scholar Aurelio Tello has added important new findings re
garding Sumaya and his oatput. Consult Tello's: Archivo Musical de la Catedral de Oax
aca: Ca/alogo, Serie Cat<ilogos I ( Mexico City: Centro Nacional de Investigacion,
Documentacion e Informacion Musical [CENlDIM), 1990); Intro. to Manuel de Sumava,
Can/ados y Vil/ancicos de Manuel de Sumava, rev., ed. & trans. by Aurelio Tello, Ar
chivo Musical de 10 Ca/edral de Oaxaca Ill, Tesoro de la Musica Polifonica en Mexico

Craig Russe1l is professor of music at Cal Pol" where he has won numerous
teaching awards-including Outstanding Prolessor of the Cal~lornia State Uni
versity system-and has received major grants from the NEH, NEA, Fulbright
Commission, and Nakamichi Foundation. His original compositions have been
played in Carnegie Ha1l, the Kennedy Center, the Oregon Bach Festival, and
other major venues worldwide.
91
92 Craig H. Russell

looking to past service (Atienza having served as Salazar's aid in 1703)

Salazar used merit and potential as the salient criteria for his decision,
and it proved to be a wise one. For the next half-century, Sumaya com
posed some of the most magnificent gems of the New World, inspired
works that rival in subtlety, splendor and compositional craft those of his
better know European contemporaries.
The adolescent Sumaya first appears in the Cathedral records in a
document dated 25 May, 1694, in which the Cathedral Chapter arranges
for the youngster to study organ privately with the Cathedral's Principal
Organist, Jose de Y diaquez, and composition with the chapelmaster,
Antonio de Salazar. He is identified as a recent graduate of the choirboys
(the resident child singers known as los Seises). They praise his musical
talents that had been amply demonstrated ever since he entered the serv
ice of the Cathedral (probably around 1690 as a boy of ten to twelve
years in age) and gladly award him a stipend of 30 pesos for clothing.
The first row between Sumaya and his older but less talented rival, Fran
cisco de Atienza, occurs in February 1710 when Atienza protests Su
maya's selection as assistant to the chapelmaster Salazar. Atienza had
established himself in the number-three slot back in 1695 with only Sala
zar and principal organist Y diaquez outranking him. He also had gar
nered some experience serving as Salazar's assistant in 1703. Robert
Stevenson and Steven Barwick have suggested that Sumaya may have
journeyed to Italy in that year, thus explaining why Salazar settled for a
lesser talent in Atienza-necessitated by Sumaya's absence-and why
Sumaya showed such intimate familiarity with the fads of European mu
sical taste even as a lad. 2 One can imagine the slight, then, when Atienza
was skipped over in preference for a "mere" choirboy. Immediately, Su
maya proved himself worthy as the two consummate artists-Salazar and
Sumaya-collaborated on at least three Latin himnos or motets in which
the teacher Salazar composed the prima pars and left the task of com
posin~ the subsequent and conduding secunda pars to his pupil Su
maya. They are exquisite four-voice pieces in a pseudo-Renaissance

VII (Mexico City: CENIDIM, 1994); and his intra. & commentary to Tres Obras de la
Catedral de Oaxaca, Tesoro de la Musica Polif6nica en Mexico III (Mexico City:
CENIDIM, 1983).
A third scholar, Julio Estrada, has contributed significantly to our knowledge of Su
maya. Consult his Musica y musicos de la epoca virreinal. prologue, revision & notes by
Andres Lira (Mexico City: Secretaria de Educaci6n Publica, 1973), esp. pp. 102-21.
2 Robert Stevenson, Music in Mexico, p. 149 and Steven Barwick, Two Mexico City
Choirbooks of 1717: An Anthology of Sacred Polyphony from the Cathedral of Mexico,
transcription and commentary by Steven Barwick (Carbondale, Illinois University:
Southern Illinois Press, 1982), p. xxiii
3 There are three motets in Choirbook VI in the Museo Virreinal de Tepotzotl:'m near
Mexico City that identify Salazar as the composer of the prima pars and Sumaya as the
composer of the secunda pars. They are: Egregie Doctor Paule (ff. 3'-6); Christe Sancto
rum decus (ff. 6 V -7); and Miris modis repel11e liber, (ff. 12v -14). Although Iesu dulcis
memoria (ff. I V-3) does not have a specific ascription for the prima pars, it does label the
composer of the secunda pars as Sumaya. Given the location of this piece in the section
in Choirbook VI of jointly authored motets--and given that the ascription to Sumaya
only occurs halfway through the piece rather than at its beginning-it is likely that Sala
zar is the composer of the prima pars, making this a fourth jointly-authored composition.
Manuel de Sumaya 93

style. It can be safely assumed that the exquisite a cappella vocal settings
authored entirely by Sumaya and recorded in the 1717 choirbooks now
housed at Tepotzothin date from this decade when Sumaya was under the
tutelage of Salazar's artistic pedagogy.4 With the appointment of the new
viceroy (Don Fernando de Alencastre Norona y Silva, Duke of Linares)
in 1711, Sumaya was presented with the opportunity to write an opera to
be performed in the Viceroy's palace on 1 May, 1711. This early date
gives Sumaya the honor of being the first native-born American to have
composed an opera. The Italian text was written by Silvio Stampiglia,
but the published libretto is bilingual (Italian and Castilian), and given
Sumaya's demonstrated skills as a libretto translator, we might assume
that this h'anslation was his doing as well. Unfortunately, the opera score
is lost.
Sumaya continued to pile up distinctions. In 1714 he was promoted
from second organist at the Cathedral-a position which he had held
since 1708-to principal organist. His ascent in the Cathedral's hierarchy
culminated in his appointment as chapelmaster in 1715. The eyesight of
his mentor Salazar had degenerated to the extent that near-blindness
compelled the elder master to relinquish his post. The Cathedral Chapter
announced a competition to determine his successor, and once again the
two principal applicants were Sumaya and his arch-rival Atienza. Thrust
into the public arena of musical combat, the two competed against each

<1 Choirbooks IV and VI in the Museo de Tepotzotl{m contain numerous works by Su

maya, a good number of which have been edited and published by Steven Barwick, Two
Mexico Citji Choirbooks of 1717: An Anthology of Sacred Polyphony from the Cathedral
of Mexico and by Russell Fditions, 541 Lilac Drive, Los Osos, CA 93402. In addition,
valuable information concerning these books is found in Robert Stevenson, Renaissance
and Baroque Musical Sources in the Americas (Washington, D.C.: General Secretariat,
Organization of American States, 1970), esp. pp. 138-41. Except for the five-voice Ad
juva 110S Deus all of the cited compositions are for four voices distributed SATB. I list
here the Sumaya works in these choirbooks using the pagination supplied by Stevenson
(pagination that disagrees somewhat with that used by Barwick); an asterisk indicates the
work is published by Barwick and an ampersand indicates the work is available from
Russell Editions. Book IV: Adiuva nos DeliS (ff. I v-4)*&; Miserere mei* (ff. 4 V -12); De
lamenlalione*& (ff. 22 V -33); Chrislusfaclus est* [no ascription but probably by SumayaJ
(ff 33 V -35); and another Miserere mei*& (ff 35 V-45). Book VI contains the works
jointly authored by Salazar and Sumaya mentioned in the previous footnote as well as the
following works composed entirely by Sumaya: Maximus Redemplor (ff. 10V-ll); Nobis
sllmma Trias (ff 14 V-15); Chrislum Regem* (ff. 15 V-16); Sacns Solemnis* (ff. 16\'-17);
LWldemus Deumnoslrum (ff. 17 V-18); Aelerna Chrisli muner "& (ff. 18 V-20); Alma Re
demploris Maler& (ff. 20 V -22); and an incomplete Ave Regina caelorllm& (ff. 24 V -26v).
Barwick's edition includes the following additional pieces by Sumaya not mentioned in
Stevenson's catalogue that he states also are drawn from Book VI: Magnificat primi toni;
Magnificat secundi loni; Magnificat lerlii loni. Conj/lebor Tibi Domine; Credidi propler
quod loculus sum. There also are important sources of a cappella music in the Music Ar
chive of the Oaxaca Cathedral, all of which are catalogued by Aurelio Tello in his Ar
chivo Musical de 10 Caledra! de Oaxaca. Carti/ogo. They are for expanded choral re
sources, and it is unclear as to whether they were composed during Sumaya's tenure at
Mexico City or were later works that he composed after his move to Oaxaca. The Oaxaca
sources include: Lauda Sion Salvalore a7 (Caja 49.25); Clausulas de 10 Passion de Mu
sica. Mierco!es Santo a4 (Caja 49.26); Lauda Jerusalem a8 (Caja 49.27); Vietimae Pas
chali Laudes a7 (Caja 49.30); Dixit Dominus a8 (Caja 49.34); and Laudale Domil1um a8
(Caja 49.35).
94 Craig H. Russell

other for several days in exams that probed their abilities, knowledge,
and expertise in nearly every area of music. The contest ot1icially began
on May 27; on June 3--in one of their most demanding trials-each ap
plicant was presented with a villancico text and asked to set it to music.
This was a standard exam of the time, and we can safely assume that
they were given th~ customary time limit of twenty-four hours for the
work's completion.) Sumaya dashed off the jaunty and imaginative SoZ
fa de Pedro for four voices and continuo and summarily was acclaimed
the victor on June 7. The Chapter awarded him the post of chapelmaster
with an annual salary of 500 pesos for his duties in the Cathedral and an
6
additional 200 pesos for teaching daily at the Public Schoo1.
Musical life at the Cathedral flourished under his directorship. One
of his earliest acts was to have the scribe Simon Rodriguez de Guzman
copy out the large choirbooks now housed at the Museo del Virreinato in
Tepotzotlan. Sahagun infoTIns us in his entries in the Gacetas de Mexico
that Sumaya was actively composing vespers and matins services for San
Pedro (1728), the Resurrection (1730), the Assumption (1730), and ex
tensive vespers services for the Congregation of the Oratory (1731, 1732,
1733) during their spectacular festivities each October. 7 He expanded the
size of the Cathedral substantially in 1734 hiring many more string play
ers, and addin~ violins, cellos, basses, trumpets, and other instruments
again in 1736. The Holy Office mounted magnificent spectacles each
September for their patron saint, San Pedro Arbues, and in the mid-1730s
Sumaya continued the long tradition of Cathedral chapelmasters who
composed, rehearsed and perfoTIned with the cathedral choir for the oc
. 9
caSlOn.

5 The records for the contest between Sumaya and Atienza had been misplaced or lost as
early as 1750, for during the subsequent contest for chapelmasler in 1750 there was <1
written request for the details of the Sumaya and Atienza battle-<1nd they were nowhere
to be found. Nevertheless, such contests were commonpl,ace, and there is no reason \0
believe that procedures were substantially different in this specific instance. For a discus
sion of this competition and the general exam process for detern1ining the selection of a
chapelmaster, consult Estrada, MZlsica y mZJsicos de la epoca virreinal, pp. 55, 63-65,
109-14. Also, invaluable infonnation is found in Stevenson, Renaissance and Baroque
Musical Sources in the Americas, p. 105, and his "La musica en el Mexico de los siglos
XVI a XVIII," p. 67.
6 Estrada, Musica y musicos de la epoca virreinal, p. 112-13.
7 Gacetas de Mexico: Castorena y Ursua (l722)-Sahagz'm y Arevalo (1728 a 1742), in
troduction by Francisco Gonzalez de Cossio, Tes/imonios Mexicanos His/oriadores, vol.
4 (Mexico City: Secretaria de Educacion Publica, 1949-1950), pp. 48, 73, 133. 240. 266,
357.

8 See Robert Stevenson, "Manuscritos de Musica Colonial Mexicana en el Extranjero,"

part I Heterofonia V/25 (July-Aug., 1972), p. 5; Robert Stevenson, "Mexican Baroque

Polyphony in Foreign Libraries," Inter-American Music Review IX/I (Fall-Winter, 1987),

~. 61; and Estrada, Musica y musicos de la epoca virreinal, p. 116

Consult my article, "Rowdy Musicians, Confraternities and the Inquisition: Newly Dis
covered Documents Concerning Musical Life in Baroque Mexico," a paper delivered at
the 15th Congress of the International Musicological Society, Madrid, April 3-10. 1992.
It appeared in Revista de Musicologia XVII5 (1993), pp. 2801-13. The Archivo General
de la Nacion preserves the documents related to the festival of San Arbues. Sumaya signs
the receipts for having received 20 pesos in conjunction with this festival for the years
1733, 1734, 1736, and 1737. For the one intervening year of 1735, Francisco de Castillo
A1anuel de Sumaya 95

This productive era in Mexico City came to an end when Sumaya

moved to the provincial city of Oaxaca in 1739 to follow his close friend
Tomas de Montano who was consecrated Bishop of Oaxaca on 5 Sep
tember, 173 8. The modern Peruvian scholar Aurelio Tello has done ex
tensive research on this last important epoch in Sumaya's life and pub
lished his findings in several lucid and notable publications. 10 In spite of
the protestations and supplications by the Mexico City authorities for
Sumaya to return, he remained in Oaxaca until his death on 21 Decem
ber, 1755.

SUMAYA'S EARLY COMPOSITIONS

Sumaya's place in history would be assured, if for no other reason,
because he has the distinction of being the first American to compose an
opera. His craftsmanship and aesthetic sensibilities, however, reveal that
he deserves attention as well for his creative and artistic brilliance. A pe
rusal of his early works reveals a highly original artist with daring me
lodic gestures, a distinctive sense of harmony, and carefully planned ar
chitectural fonnal structures.
He is particularly fond of introducing the soprano line in the
stratosphere soaring high above the other sonorities. In Alma Redemp
toris Mater, for example, the soprano makes its second entrance by
floating in an octave above the other sounding voices with the words"
quae periva caeli" (m. 7) and the contrary motion of their melodies mo
mentarily propels them even farther apart. The daring separation of so
norities is even more pronounced in the secunda pars where the soprano
first enters an octave and a fourth above the other voices (m. 30)!
Aeterna Christi munera similarly spotlights the soprano's entrances in
the mid-points of both the prima and secunda pars (mm. 8 & 33) by lay
ering them above low sonic foundations. In an equally bold move in his
five-voice Adjuva nos Deus (Example I below), Sumaya inserts the first
soprano on a high g against an f in the second soprano that has been tied
over from the previous measure. A crunching 2-3 suspension results, but
not by the customary rules of preparation-instead, the first soprano has
launched into the texture with a compelling dissonance that then impels
the phrase forward.
Harmonically, Sumaya has a predilection for chains of secondary
dominants and all manner of seventh chords. Alma Redemptoris lvialer
provides representative examples in measures 22-24 as does his Adjuva
nos Deus from measures 81-88. 11 A driving harmonic energy results

signs the receipt instead of Sumaya as being the person who had been in charge of the

musIc.

10 In particular, consult Tello's Archivo Musical de la Caledral de Oaxaca: COlalogo,

esp. pp. 19-20; his introduction to Manuel de SlIlI1aya, Canladas y Vi/lancicos de Manuel

de SUll1oya, esp. pp. II, 14-15; and his introduction to Tres Obras de la Caledral de Oax

aca, esp. pp. 6-7.

II Adjllva nos Deus is found in Choirbook IV in the Museo Virreinal de Tepotzotlan, ff.

IVA.
96 Craig H Russell

Example 1. Adjuva nos Deus

16
"
SoprMO 1
e! I I
sa-lu - ta ris nos lc.:r.

Soprano 2
"
e!
sa lu

1\
Alto

e!
tcr.

Tenor "
~ sa - Ju - ta - ris nos ler. sa-lu . ta-ri.~ nos

Bass

sa-Iu - la-ris nos teL

that moves forward with inexorable drive towards the anticipated ca

dences. Imaginative voice-leading-coupled with Sumaya's rich har
monic vocabulary-often result in the juxtaposition of two vocal lines
that first appear to collide on the page. For example, the tenor in Adjuva
nos Deus ascends from e to f-sharp at measures 20-21 simultaneously
while the first soprano descends from f-natural to e. (See Example i.) An
unstable interval of a seventh thus lunges forward to an equally unstable
ninth, due to the two voices' unsettling cross relation and daring ex
change of pitches-and to the listener's utter amazement, it all works
splendidly'. This sort of piquant gesture 1S frequent in S umaya' s and Sa
lazar's works and is representative of the richly flavored harmonies and
bold effects of the American polyphonists.
Symmetry abounds in Sumaya's compositions; careful planning of
large architectural features is one of his hallmarks. For instance, the ex
tant portions of Sumaya's "Ave Regina caelorum" consist of a prima and
secunda pars; both begin with an alto and tenor duet, who are then sub
sequently joined by the outer voices-first the soprano and later the
bass. '2 Midway through the section the texture builds upwards, moving
the sonorities into progressively higher registers; the bass and tenor begin
with a duet and are then joined by the alto and ultimately by the soprano.
This structure and order of entrances is replicated in both of the extant
partes or sections, as can be seen in Example 2.

12 Alma Redemploris Maler is found at the back of Choirbook VI in the Museo Virreinal
de Tepotzoti<in, ff. 18 v -20. Unfortunately, the final folios of the volume have been re
moved from the choirbook; it is clear that the final sections of Alma Redemploris Maler
are missing and we therefore cannot make a final judgement on its structure until the en
tire piece is reconstructed or found.
lvianue! de Sumaya 97
f:xample 2. Symmetry in Ave Regina Cae/arum

I Prirn8. pus I I SeclJnda. pars I

I I I I
mrn.1-1O rnrn.22-31
-'"" Iio.
Alto & Tenorbegin, .... Ii"" Alto ,y: Tenorbegin,
& then Soprnno entel,,} ....
&c l~.:,tly B~.$s,
... ..{ & then B8SS en tel's,
& hstly Soprono,

rnm. 10-21 [("Iff.. 31....::12

Tenor & Bass begin, Tenor & Bass begin,

&c then Alto enters, ........ Iloo.
..... & then Alto enters,
& lastly Soprano, & lastly Soprnno,

Sumaya shows similar meticulous care in crafting the formal

structure of the Lamentations a/Jeremiah for Holy Saturday. The Lam-
en/ations are unique textually in the Bible. Hebrew letters stand as mys-
terious and untranslatable beacons that herald the beginnings of poetic
lines; each letter is used three times in succession to introduce three sub-
sequent lines of text. Sumaya takes advantage of this consistent repetitive
textual structure by mapping out musical symmetries that underscore the
text's tripartite nature. I.> When a Hebrew letter is first introduced, he has
the four voices move forward in slow, rich chords with very little rhyth-
mic activity. The second statement of any Hebrew letter is much more
active and steeped in imitative counterpoint. For the third and final ap-
pearance of a letter, Sumaya returns to a setting that is non-imitative,
slow and sonorous-reminiscent of tbe letter's first appearance. This ter-
nary structure (slow-and-cbordal, active-and-imitative, slow-and-
chordal) is immutably preserved for each of the successive letters, Heth,
Teth, and lod.
The lines of text that follow the Hebrew letters-unlike the letters
themselves-are not rounded off in a ternary configuration, but instead
are gl'Oupecl so that they become increasingly contrapuntal, impulsive,
and active. In this way, Sumaya engenders a sense of growth and forward
momentum in each major section through the increased rbythmic activity
of the verses-and this crescendo in activity is juxtaposed against the
balanced, symmetrical (and more reserved) architecture of the letters
tbemselves, The final culminating phrase, "Hierusalem, Hierusalem,
convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum" is the longest musically of the
composition, and Sumaya's setting is one of the most exquisite in the vo-
cal repertoire.

13 Thc LomelltaiiollS 0/ Jerelllwh lor 1I0ly Salurday are found III Cholrbook IV 111 the
Muoco VllTclllal de TcpotLotl<in, fT 22"-33 It has been recorded by ChantIcleer on the
compact disk Mexicoll Baroque, MI/sic From Nell' Spain, Series: Das AIle Werke (Ham-
bmg Telclcc, 1994) Teldcc No, 4509-93333-2

5T "
98 Craig H. Russell

Example 3. Spanish Lamentation Tone

Hebrew Letter Verse, 1st half

Verse, 2nd half

Other details subtly reinforce the symmetrical structure of Su-

maya's Lamentations. In setting each Hebrew letter, Sumaya faithfully
quotes the Spanish Lamentation tone in one of the voices and often para-
14
phrases it in the others. If one graphs out the nine occurrences of He-
brew letters and the voices that preserve the Lamentation tone as a cantus
firmus, one finds that Sumaya distributes this privilege of quotation
equally among the voices: the soprano, alto, and tenor each quote the
tune on two separate occasions. Sumaya gives the bass voice the Lam-
entation tone one extra time (which was a mathematical necessity, given
that nine occurrences were to be distributed among four voices). He
highlights the bass's privilege by always placing the bass's quotation as
the second-and thus central-occurrence of the Hebrew letter. Thus,
the soprano, alto, or tenor voice sings the cantus firmus when a letter is
introduced, after which the bass states it at the fulcrum, and finally all is
balanced out by the reiteration of the letter for the third and last time as
the cantus firm us is sung once again in one of the upper voices. This
pattern reinforces the ternary aspects of the textural setting that have al-
ready been discussed. (See Example 4 below.)
Sumaya takes considerable care to express the text and word re-
lationships by his musical decisions. For example, he sets the words
"Animae quaerenti ilium (to the souls that seek Him)" in four-part
homophonic motion-the first time he has chosen to use that declama-
tory device: in the succeeding line, he writes his second passage in four-
part homophony at the words "salutare Dei (for God's salvation)" that is
similar to the homophonic setting employed in the previous line. Su-
maya's textures thus tie together the concepts of seeking God with the
granting of salvation to those who seek Him. When Sumaya sets "Bonum
est praestolari cum silencio (It is good to wait in silence)," he has all four
voices come to a rest-and all sounds stop as they literally come to si-
lence.

14 For an explanation of the Spanish Lamentation tone and its treatment by polyphonic
composers in Europe and the Americas consult Eliyahu A. Schleifer, "Lamentations and
Lamentation Tones in the Mexican Choirbooks of the Newberry Library, Chicago," in A
Birthday Offering to Josef Tal, Israel Studies in Musicology II (Jerusalem: Israel Musi-
cological Society, 1980), pp. 123-39; and also Gunther Massenkeil, "Eine spanische Cho-
ralmelodie in mehrstimmigen Lamentationskomposition des 16. Jahrhunderts," Archivfiir
Musikwissenschaft XVIII (1962), pp. 103-14 and XIX-XX (1962-63), pp. 230-37.
Manuel de Sumaya 99

Example 4. Symmetry in Sumaya's Lamentations

Sect/Ofl 1 Secti07l 2 Secti07l 3

Heth(l) Teth(l) lad (1)
SCow 6' COrlSonant SCow 6' COrlSonant S{ow 6' COrlSonant
cantus firmus in Alh., cantus firmus in _"''}lI;UIO cantus fiYrnus in Tt:JJ1"r

Heth (2) Teth (2) lad (2) Concluding

Active 6' Jmitative Jlctive 6' Imitative Jlctive 6' Jmitative Phrase:
"Hierusalem,
cantus firmus in l3.t.~ cantus fiymus in l3.t.'Y cantus firmus in B.:1S:..''''
Hierusalem"

Heth (3) Teth (3) lad (3)

S{ow 6' Consonant SCow 6' Consonant S{ow &' COrlSOnant
cantw: fi:cmus in T~...I)'u cantus liTmUS in Alt" cantus firmus in ...c;{'}Ij~U}"

Example 5. Motivic Unity in Aeterna Christi munera

Plima pars
Motive Motive ..
=foffi'19 lhinf<.7 ,"con" = faffin8 !~i,..{,

0101.1-2 e:f ~lilt" matico Ufwo.ns 0101.7-9 <.7 t~'" ['''I' Uj''''''',[,

Tenor Tenor

I Secunda pars I
Motive .. Motive ..
0101.25-27 O101.32.J3

Alto Alto

Sumaya aptly expresses the solitary isolation of the line "Sedebit

solitarius et tacebit (He sits alone and keeps silent)" by a reduction in
texture to a duet between the tenor and bass; the two upper voices are
thus removed from the texture and are "alone" and "silent." When the
text conjures up images of falling and of humble lowliness with the line
"Ponet in pulvere os suum (Let him put his mouth in the dust)," the
melodies plummet downwards to the "dust" of the low register. The de-
spair of that line suddenly shifts to one of hope with the words "si forte
100 Craig H. Russell

sit soes (if hope be strong)," and Sumaya appropriately reverses the me
lodic direction as they too swirl upwqrds in an ascent of musical hope
that nullifies the previous cascading line. Solemn homophony prevails
twice in a row with the double occurrence of the line "Hierusalem," and
momentarily turns from mode 1 to mode 7 in an expression of uplifting
optimism at the concluding hopeful supplication, "Convertere ad Domi
num Deum tuum (Tum to the Lord your God)."
In yet another early work, Sumaya demonstrates splendid control
over structural and musical resources in his motet Aeterna Christi mu
nera. 15 He replicates the cantus firmus in slow, majestic motion in the
soprano voice in the prima pars and then passes the same melody to the
slow-moving tenor in the secunda pars-while the soprano sings a para
phrased version of the tune in diminution. The harmonies produce a
powerful forward drive in measure 13 with one of Sumaya's preferred

Example 6. Dropping thirds in Aeterna Christi munera

m.7
m.8

~~?b~~J~J414A
t i l j / \
Alto
I
I~&;~b~$~~:>~c
Te"O~ I:
1s'!i 1~I~f~~
- ..
Combined voices

- J
harmonic devices, the use of chains of secondary-dominant chords. Su
maya generates more rhythmic activity coupled with consonant passages
in flowing parallel thirds and tenths in the secunda pars, thereby pro
ducing a sense of motion, growth, consonant richness and burgeoning
excitement as the motet unfolds. The entire work is sewn together with a
motivic gesture that recurs in one guise or another throughout the piece.
After an initial rest, the motive falls twice in a row with two descending
intervals of a third (or in some cases the latter interval is a second), after

15 Aeterna Christi munera is found in Choirbook IV in the Museo Virreinal de Tepot

zotlm, ff. 18 v -20.
Manuel de Sumaya 101

which the gesture leaps upwards by a perfect fourth of fifth. This me-
lodic thread weaves persistently through the motet.
The importance of the falling third is underscored beginning at measure
7 as each voice enters a third below its predecessor, creating a long chain
of falling thirds beginning on g and making the descent through the six
other diatonic pitches until it finishes off on b-flat, as is illustrated in Ex-
ample 6.
Close scrutiny of the motet reveals the rigorous symmetry be-
tween the two halves of the composition. Each idea and gesture of the
prima pars is meticulously replicated and reflected in the corresponding
location in the secunda pars. Example 7 lays out the musical events of
the prima and secunda pars in parallel columns, illustrating the work's
identical and unfailing symmetry. Example 8 provides the complete
score for this composition.

Example 7. Symmetry in Sumaya's Aeterna Christi munera

PTin1a paTS Secunda pars

( 1st Phrase I ( 1st Phrase J'-------------,

Soprano moving slowly: with chant tune Tenor moving slowly: with chant tune
while other voices move faster while other voices move faster
Head motive in imitation between T&B Head m.otive in imitation between A&B
at the distance of a <> (m..I) at the distance of a <> (m..25)

Subsequent imitation (between T&B) of Subsequent imitation (between A&B) of

descending figure encom passing a 5th at descending figure encompassing a 5th at
the distance of a j (m..3) the distance of a j (m..27)

Cadence on open C harmony (m..7) Cadence on open C hannony (m.32)

( 2nd Phrase '1 ,---------{( 2nd Phrase 1~ -----,

Imitation lYf three voices (AT,B) at Imitation by three voices (A,T,B) at

the distance of a J after a ~ developing the distance of a J after a ~ developing
the falling-third motive (m..7) the falling-third motive (m..32)

Daring en trance by sky-high soprano on Daring entrance by sky-high soprano on

f a full 1Oth above the other voices (m.8) !' a full oct ave above the other voices
(m..33)

Rapid ascending scale in one voice (Alto) Rapid ascending scale in one voice (Bass)
energetically drives toward cadence (m..9) energetically drives toward cadence (m..34)

Cadence on open 'F harmony (m..II) Cadence on complete 'F triad (m..36)
102 Craig H Russell

Example 7, cont'd

PrinUI pars Secunda pars

,---------r: 3rd Phrase ~----- .-- 3rd Phrase L _
Imitation bV three voices (A,T,B) at Imitation bv three voices (5,A,B) at
the distan~e of a J after a ~ develclping the distan~e of a J after a ~ developing
ascending scales in slow J.' descending scales in rapid Jl,
lising the distance ofa 5th, (",.121 fulling the distance of a 5th, (",.37)

but utilizing the earlier motive:

J rDc.rJ
Cadence on clpen C hannony (IIl.lo) L.:?dence on open C harmony r", 42)

-.1' 4th Phrase I ( 4th Phrase '

Double Canons: voices grouped (",.13) Double Canons: voices grouped (",.42)
in to pairs, rhythmically & melodically in to pairs, rhythmically &~ melodically
lvlelodically:: the general contour Melodically: the general contour
of all voices spells ou t thini of two voices (A&T) spells out third.
relations that gradually relations that gradually
descend in sequence, step by step descend in sequence, step by step

Rhy:thrnicall:l: a. canon of steady J Rh)1hmically: a canon of steady J

between T&5 staggered by distance of J between T&A staggered by distance of J

ca.non by distance of r
B&A stagger a. rhythmicallyactive
r
B&5 stagger a rhythmically'active
canon by distance of

JIJ DJ I JI J prJr I
(B=&Sopr.uto'<c",",JUC r~
Builds from low voices to high
Builds from lew voices to high
(T&B, then A enters, & lastly, 5)
(T&B, then A enters, & lastly, 5)
Cadence on open 'F harmony (",.24)
Cadence on full 'F triad (",.48)

L --"

In summary, Sumaya's extant music reveals his imaginative OrIgI-

nality and compositional craftsmanship, His works are harmonically rich
and daring, structurally well-conceived, and permeated with refined
touches that are subtle and sophisticated. Truly, Sumaya had learned his
Manuel de Sumaya 103

craft well. It is little wonder that his mentor and teacher, Antonio de Sa-
lazar, had such confidence in the young composer. Reexamining the
contest between Atienza and Sumaya, we are reminded that the middle-
aged Atienza had complained when the blind Salazar chose the younger
Sumaya to be his assistant and probable successor; Atienza felt slighted,
and he demanded a reason for this unacceptable rupture of the seniority
system. Salazar's reply may well have been condensed to one
word-merit. Rarely has a teacher gazed with such lucid clarity into the
future. He had the foresight to see the promise of his brilliant pupil and
envisioned the elegant musical compositions that were to issue forth
from Sumaya's pen. Salazar's eyesight had failed him, but not his vision.
He could see what Sumaya was to become-the greatest American com-
poser of the eighteenth century.
104 Craig H. Russell

Example 8. Manuel de Sumaya, Aetema Christi Munera

,~,."O ~~~~I~t~~~.~~-~-----F-
~ nl'~1~1--I~C-~h~n~S~~~~~lltn~1~~I~~!~~~~~~
"
oj 41- v
ter -n;1 Chris 1I

" rrn
Teno:::-

Sass
Ae-ler-na Chris

,..
1\ 11111

.. . .
----r--J--+ -l-+--F
I I
Ac lcr-na Chris Ac - Icr-lla Chris-Ii

A
I , ,9 ,
------+--
I I

"
ne
I "I. .\

I I
po sin -10

r-,
_r I rum gIn n - am,

"
Il1U
ne ,f ra. A-po-slo
4
10
,
' ' '1 '!:ft=r=;;= n-'nn.

. 9
f ,. 1"

-J~'1l1
i i
, I
nc fa, po-slo-In gIn
I
-+--- tJ

.......
mu - llC - fa. A-rO - SIO 10 rum f.'lo n :1111,

, _
,I
- -
T,~-=H1
I
I f).
i
,'---1
f:lLJ . Pal - ill"S Ci
IiYIll~
I I

.
i i i

oJ
Pal mas ct hym
-,--

-
1
nos
I
... .
de
I -i-Y-
I
..
1\
- I I
.. p-,-*.---::---~
I i
1"'\

I
'!! mas et hym nos de I I bi - los, de
,....,
:
h. t f' II ,--
I
.'>'
-
I
..... I i=$F
Pal-l11~s et h1'll1 nos de
Manuel de Sumaya 105

Example 8, cont'd
X'
=!

@r =i

-
I

-A.-I
~
de

hi
hi

-
-
lOS,

IDS,
1 -1-
~

lac - tIS
-o::::l
ca
lac

.J--j-.'

Il:t
lIS

IllUS
L::I

+-
'---t
men
-
A
~- 1- .. ~

==f =l=-t ---'--- +-

~
..-..;-
hi
-
lOS, lac - lis ca na ll1US

-
men Ii

f='
,"----- --$-

hi los. lac tIS - ca

0;;;;
n<l rnu~ men

--+ -t- '"

--
Secundil pars
-
n:1 - I1lUS lllCll hus Po . tri

'" '-
Ii hus. p~ -tri si mul que
-
-
'" -
,9-=1
hus. Pa tri
hus. men
II '" +-
_..
hu:-.

I 4,c:.J FI
-. li-o,
I'
0
'n" ,~:,:, '1"' _.
Ci
0
,,~
I

' ~~ -, I, ,
51 rnul que
._~
-++
=-- I
mul-que h - Ii 0, Pa si-mul que
-~Ori~il1a)ly
In time \
\'~dl..ll~ \~ :1.'>.\ )IC
vc (-!ldt
-.
nlll..:.1
 106 Craig H. Russell

Example 8, cont'd

i\. ..-I

tJ l",.o0oi u,..IoJ
per om - ne glo - ri-a, A - men. A men. A - men.
, "
,
- 0

u -,;~ ~ -,; u I I
.) 4- 2 2<1
per om - ne glo fI - a, A - men. A - men.
0

~
- I
ne glo - ri a, A - men.

- , 1""\ 0

I I
! glo ri - a, A """ men. A ""'" men.