Flanders, in French Flandre and in Dutch Vlaanderen, is a historic principality of northern continental Europe. Merovingian domination brought Christianity to the country in the 6th century (approximately), the first bishop being St. Vaast (St. Vedastus), Bishop of Arras. The See of Arras was later transferred to Cambrai and a new See was created in Tourenne, at the same time the abbeys of St. Vaast in Arras and St. Bertin in Saint-Omer flourished. The importance of Flanders goes back to the 13th century, when its cities began to prosper thanks to the development of the cloth trade that contributed to the emergence of a unique Flemish culture in painting, literature and architecture. Even in the Cantigas of Alfonso X, the Wise Flanders appears as a place where Spanish merchants travelled to trade. At the beginning of the 10th century, Baldwin III established the beginnings of industrial and commercial development in the region, creating wool and silk factories in Gant and founding the annual fairs in Brugges, Ypres and other towns. In the 11th century Flanders was part of the Holy Roman Empire and soon after it became part of the French crown. By the middle of the 11th century, Flanders had acquired a power equivalent to that of a kingdom, and its governors possessed a notable influence on the political affairs of Western Europe. Between 1191 and 1280, Flanders and the neighbouring region of Hainaut were governed as one province. The whole country lived off the wool trade which was the secret behind its new power, as the “free cities” of the burgeoning “bourgeois dynasties” created an obstacle to the power of the feudal barons. The poet Gauthier D'Arras creator of comic theatre, and the prose writers Jacquemars Gielée and Alain de Lille all blossomed with the rise of the bourgeoisie. CANTIGAS OF FLANDERS TRACKLISTING: 1 CSM 139 MARVELLOUS MIRACLES. “Marvellous and Pious” Voice and chorus, portative organ, medieval guitar, axabeba (Moorish flute), alto recorder, chimes, gong and goblet drum. The story is located in Dormaus, Flanders, inspired by the tale by Gualterius de Cluny that became well known because of the Spanish film “Marcelino pan y vino” (Marcelino Bread and Wine). A boy offers bread to an image of Jesus in a painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Baby Jesus in her arms. The Holy Child responds, encouraged by his Mother, saying that tomorrow the boy will eat with Him in Paradise. 2 CSM 158 THE IMPRISONED KNIGHT. “De muitas guisas” Solo voice and chorus, psaltery, vihuela, cítola, viola, guimbri (African lute), axabeba, recorder and clay pot. A tyrannical Lord, unfairly imprisons an honorouble knight and throws him into chains. When the knight promises to make a pilgrimage to Rocamadour, he is set free by the Virgin Mary. The prisoner went to hang the chains in the promised sanctuary, via Tolosa de Guipúzcoa. 3 CSM 102 THE CLERIC AND THE THIEVES. “Sempr´ aos seus val” Solo voice and chorus, three-holed flute, chicotén (psaltery), zither and recorder. A simple realist tale of a young cleric who lost his way. A boy offers to guide him in exchange for a few coins. He accepts the proposal and the boy takes him to a place where thieves rob him and throw him into a cave that they then cover with stones. After asking the Virgin for help all night, some shepherds rescue the wounded priest, and all together they pray to Holy Mary. 4 CSM 32 THE IGNORANT CLERIC. “Quen loar podia” Alto voice and chorus, portative organ, vihuela, psaltery, chalumeau, chimes and gong The Virgin defends an ignorant cleric whose bishop had criticized him and expelled him from the city because he only knew how to sing mass dedicated to Her. A hagiographic legend by Haderardus de Derlar. 5 CSM 216 A PACT WITH THE DEVIL. “O que en Santa Maria de coraçon confia” Solo voice and chorus, symphonia, pastoral flute and hand-held frame drums. A Knight lost his land and made a pact with the devil, promising to surrender his wife in exchange for money. The wife was devoted to the Virgin Mary who goes to the devil disguised as the knight’s wife. The devil fled when he discovered the trick. The stupid knight was sorry and was pardoned by both. 6 CSM 261 A VISION OF THE SAINTS. “Quen Jesu-Crist´e ssa Madre veer quiser” Solo voice and chorus, vihuela, portative organ, three-holed flute and tabor, recorder, goblet drums and hand-held frame drums. A woman’s greatest desire was to see and listen to good men and women. A bishop preached in her land and after hearing his sermon she expressed her desire in confession. Following the advice of the bishop, after fasting and prayer, the woman had the vision of a great light and a bridge that the saints, Jesus Christ and his Mother were all crossing. The woman in tears asked if she could go with them and died immediately. When the bishop found out and saw the radiant body smelling of aromas from overseas, he marvelled at the sight, and understood that it was part of a divine plan. 7 CSM 267-373 THE MERCHANT OF FLANDERS “A de que Deus pres” Solo voice and chorus, viola, vihuela, portative organ, cornamuse, flute, goblet drums, handheld frame drums. Cantiga 267 is repeated in the songbook with the number 373. Holy Mary saved a merchant from death at sea when he fell from a ship. The narrative tells the story of a rich merchant who was very devoted to the Virgin Mary. He lived in Portugal between the River Duero and the River Mino, and hired a ship to go to Flanders by way of the Cantabrian Sea. However, during a strong storm, he fell into the water and was on the point of drowning when he called on the help of Holy Mary whom he had promised he would go on a pilgrimage to Rocamadour. The Virgin Mary saved him and miraculously he reached the port of destination ten days earlier than planned. The merchant returned to Flanders through France making the pilgrimage he had promised. 8 CSM 11 THE DROWNED MONK "Macar ome per folia" Alto voice and chorus, reed pipe, symphonia, psaltery, pipe, recorder and goblet drum. A monk, who was the treasurer in an abbey, not only controlled the economy. Every night he went to have fun with his girlfriend, although when he went out he always saluted the Virgin Mary with a “Hail Mary”. He had to cross a river and on one occasion he was drowned. Angels and devils argued over his soul, and when the angels gave up the cause as lost, Holy Mary came out in his defence and made the angels give the soul back to the body and so resuscitate it. There are French, English, Italian, Icelandic, Arabic, Ethiopian and Greek versions of this legend in verse and it is often used in sermons and exempla. The oldest dates back to the 11th century. In Spain there are versions by Alfonso X, Gil de Zamora and Berceo.