Juan Frances de Iribaren (1699-1767) was born near the Spanish town of Pamplona, and he received his musical education at the court of Madrid. He held the function of organist of the Salamanca Cathedral, where he stayed between 1717 and 1733. He then obtained the prestigious post of Maestro di Capilla of the Malaga Cathedral where he stayed till his death.

Iribaren left an enormous oeuvre of (mostly) sacred works, used for liturgical services in the Malaga Cathedral. This new recording offers an anthology of Motets, sacred arias, A Lamentation, a Cantata and a selection of Villancicos (a Christmas song, sung in Spanish).

Sung by Cristina Bayon, a renowned Spanish soprano specialized in Early Music, and countertenor Jorge Enrique Garcia Ortega. The instrumental part is performed by the Ensemble Esitös: Valerio Losito and Paolo Perrone (violins), Ulrike Pranter (cello), Antonio Tomás del Pino Romero (organ and theorbo), Aníbal Soriano (Spanish guitar), directed from the harpsichord by Federico Del Sordo.