SOROZÁBAL – Choral Works II Sorozábal: Choral Works II marks Kea Ensemble’s second recording project devoted to the choral music of Pablo Sorozábal (1897–1988), continuing the ensemble’s dedicated exploration and recovery of a fascinating yet still insufficiently known aspect of one of the most significant figures in twentieth-century Basque music. Although Sorozábal is remembered above all for his outstanding contribution to zarzuela and musical theatre, choral music occupied an important place throughout his career. Deeply rooted in Basque musical culture, these works reflect his close relationship with some of the region’s leading choral institutions, including the Orfeón Donostiarra and the Easo, Maitea and Loinaz choirs. Spanning different periods of Sorozábal’s creative life, the repertoire reveals his enduring fascination with traditional Basque song and his ability to transform folk material through writing of remarkable clarity, elegance and expressive immediacy. Predominantly diatonic harmonies, skilful counterpoint, carefully shaped solo lines and an extraordinary economy of means define a musical language in which apparent simplicity conceals meticulous craftsmanship. Of particular importance is the world-première recording of Sorozábal’s own choral version of his Eight Basque Songs, originally conceived for two voices and guitar. This recording features interludes and introductions proposed by guitarist Marco Socías, bringing a new dimension to this beautiful cycle. With Choral Works II, Kea Ensemble builds upon its previous recording devoted to Sorozábal and further contributes to the recovery and reassessment of his choral legacy, revealing music that forms a bridge between the Basque cultural renaissance of the early twentieth century and the renewed assertion of Basque musical identity in the decades that followed.