As the seat of the regional archdiocese, the Bogotá cathedral was exceptionally well-funded in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and became a major center for Western musical activity in South America. It had an organ and a number of paid musicians on its staff, including both singers and instrumentalists. This collection by Música Ficta, an early music ensemble based on Bogotá that concentrates on music of the Baroque era written or known to be performed in the New World, primarily consists of villancicos, religious songs in Spanish that incorporate folk elements from the archives of the Bogotá cathedral, as well as some instrumental pieces. The villancicos are for the most part lively and dance-like, with a rhythmic energy derived in part from the indigenous music of the region. The performances are straightforward and unadorned, but Música Ficta sings and plays with infectious enthusiasm and flair. Jairo Serrano, who doubles as guitarist and percussionist, has a light, pleasant tenor and is featured on most of the tracks. The ensemble uses traditional Columbian percussion instruments that provide an appropriately colorful sound and some of the instrumental pieces are refreshingly wild in their rough-hewn vigor. The sound is clean, with a good sense of presence, enhanced by random bird calls that occurred in recording sessions, which contribute nicely to the ambience.