Wykonawcy Musica Antiqua: César Carazo, voice and viola Luis Antonio Munoz, voice Álvaro Arturo, zither Eduardo Paniagua, psaltery and backing vocals Antonio Olías, cane flute (shakuhachi) and throat singing Alfonso Tomás, wooden flute and bells Alejandro León, tambourine, gong, tar and clapping David Mayoral, darbuka and tambourine / Eduardo Paniagua
LA CREACIÓN DEL MUNDO (‘The creation of the world’) EPIFANÍA. LA ADORACIÓN DE LOS REYES MAGOS (‘Epiphany. The adoration of the Three Wise Men’) RESURRECCIÓN (‘Resurrection’) ASCENSIÓN (‘Ascension’) ESPÍRITU SANTO (‘Holy Spirit’)
There are four manuscripts kept of Cantigas de Santa María: one in Toledo Chapter Library (To), two in El Escorial (T and E) and one in Florence which has blank staves (F). Cantigas de Santa María, composed and compiled by Alfonso X The Wise, king of Castile and Leon, is a collection of monodic songs in honor to the Virgin which speak about her merits and miracles.
The surviving copy of the Codex kept in Toledo (the original one was lost) dates back to the beginning of the 14th century and is related to the other three manuscripts. This one features an Introduction, a Prologue, 100 cantigas (about the Virgin’s miracles and praise), an Epilogue, 5 cantigas about the feasts of Holy Mary, another 5 ones about the feasts of Jesus Christ and finally, an Appendix of 16 songs. This Codex is actually the oldest one in content and is dated after 1257 when Alfonso X was already king of the Romans (which is mentioned in the introduction) and had already conquered Jerez and Medina Sidonia.
This new volume on the Cantigas Series features the 5 cantigas about the feasts of Jesus Christ in the Toledo Codex:
1 LA CREACIÓN DEL MUNDO (‘The creation of the world’)
2 EPIFANÍA. LA ADORACIÓN DE LOS REYES MAGOS (‘Epiphany. The adoration of the Three Wise Men’)
3 RESURRECCIÓN (‘Resurrection’)
4 ASCENSIÓN (‘Ascension’)
5 ESPÍRITU SANTO (‘Holy Spirit’)
Plus two bonus ones: cantigas (No406), called ‘LAS MAYAS’, and No403 called ‘LOS SIETE PESARES’ (‘the seven sorrows’). There is no explanation for these special cantigas exclusively included in the second appendix of the Toledo Codex. Scholars have not paid attention to these Christological cantigas. There is no analysis of these works; neither from literary nor a theological content point of view; not to mention any analysis of melodies and rhythm.
These cantigas are remarkable works indeed and have been recorded for the first time on this CD.
