Alfonso X El Sabio: The Hundreath Cantigas
Pneuma - PN 1380
Kompozytor
Alfonso X El Sabio (1221-1284)
Alfonso X El Sabio (1221-1284)
Utwory na płycie:
1 INTITULATIO. Don Afonso de Castela, 2:30 recited, psaltery, zither
2 PRÓLOGO. Porque trobar é cousa en que jaz 7:12 singing, psaltery, viola, zither
3 LOS SIETE GOZOS. CSM 1. Des oge mais quer’ eu trovar 6:51 singing, backing vocals, psaltery, zither, dulcimer, fidula, flutes, darbuka, tambourine and bells.
4 ESTRELLA DEL DÍA. CSM 100. Santa Maria, strela do dia 4:47 singing, backing vocals, psaltery, zither and gong
5 ALABÉ, ALABO Y ALABARÉ. CSM 200. Santa Maria loei e loo e loarei. 6:47 singing, backing vocals, psaltery, zither, flutes, dulcimer and tambourine
6 GRAN ENFERMEDAD. CSM 279 Santa Maria, valed', ai Sennor 5:26 singing, backing vocals, psaltery, zither and gong
7 SIEMPRE LOAR. CSM 300. Muito deveria ome sempr' a loar 7:50 singing, backing vocals, psaltery, flutes, dulcimer and darbuka
8 MANERAS DE LOAR. CSM 400. Pero cantigas de loor fiz de muitas maneiras 2:50 singing, psaltery, zither, tambourine and gong
9 EPÍLOGO. PETIÇON. CSM 401. Macar poucos cantares acabei e con son 18:01 singing, psaltery and darbuka.
2 PRÓLOGO. Porque trobar é cousa en que jaz 7:12 singing, psaltery, viola, zither
3 LOS SIETE GOZOS. CSM 1. Des oge mais quer’ eu trovar 6:51 singing, backing vocals, psaltery, zither, dulcimer, fidula, flutes, darbuka, tambourine and bells.
4 ESTRELLA DEL DÍA. CSM 100. Santa Maria, strela do dia 4:47 singing, backing vocals, psaltery, zither and gong
5 ALABÉ, ALABO Y ALABARÉ. CSM 200. Santa Maria loei e loo e loarei. 6:47 singing, backing vocals, psaltery, zither, flutes, dulcimer and tambourine
6 GRAN ENFERMEDAD. CSM 279 Santa Maria, valed', ai Sennor 5:26 singing, backing vocals, psaltery, zither and gong
7 SIEMPRE LOAR. CSM 300. Muito deveria ome sempr' a loar 7:50 singing, backing vocals, psaltery, flutes, dulcimer and darbuka
8 MANERAS DE LOAR. CSM 400. Pero cantigas de loor fiz de muitas maneiras 2:50 singing, psaltery, zither, tambourine and gong
9 EPÍLOGO. PETIÇON. CSM 401. Macar poucos cantares acabei e con son 18:01 singing, psaltery and darbuka.
CANTIGAS CENTENALES (THE HUNDREDTH CANTIGAS). Alfonso X El Sabio. MÚSICA ANTIGUA. Conductor: EDUARDO PANIAGUA Every HUNDREDTH CANTIGA is a work that opens and closes a different period in the history of the Codices: Cantigas 1, 100, 200, 300, and 400, and the Prologue and Epilogue. They are both a reflection of King Alfonso X the author and of his intentions, the vehicle for his cultural project as king and his devotional relationship with the Virgin Mary, his mentor and protectress. They harbour the intimacy of the king, self analysis, a critique of his intentions and the request for the troubadour’s “reward” in exchange for the delivery of the book (codices) of his praises to the Virgin. This is why I have called this project EL CORAZON DE CASTILLA (THE HEART OF CASTILE). The Cantigas of Alfonso X el Sabio (the Wise) are preserved in four 13th century codices. The content of the different codices is complementary and together they contain 427 songs written in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary by her troubadour King Alfonso X, making this the largest medieval lyric work in the world. As the composition and compilation of the cantigas progressed, the wise King reorganized them for each new codex. From the one hundred original cantigas (Toledo Codex, MS To in the National Library in Madrid), to the final total of 400 (MS E, San Lorenzo de El Escorial Library), he pauses every 100 cantigas with a special and personal work of praise from “Alfonso” the Virgin Mary’s troubadour. These are the hundredth cantigas. This recording shows these four hundredth cantigas and other emblematic cantigas that open and close the songbook (Intitulatio or announcement, Prologue, CSM 1 and Epilogue CSM 301). The singular CSM 279 is also included, about the King’s great illness. All of them reveal the intentions of the Wise King as a devotee of his heavenly Lady, as a personal signature. The intention of these sung poems has a lot to do with their specific arrangement in the codices. Alfonso had poets and musicians collaborating in this great enterprise, although we do not know the reason why their names do not appear. In this selection of singular cantigas the “presence” of Alfonso is felt not only as a patron but as a person. To fully understand and enjoy this CD we recommend you read the poems of the songs. They are not just a literary device, but a declaration of intentions revealing the author’s intimacy and human aspirations. When creating the instrumentation and the musical ambiance of these cantigas we decided that one solo voice, King Alfonso’s, should sing all the stanzas. During the performance we felt a transformation together with a certain sense of modesty, when the personal sentiments of the King were sung. By the end of the recording we found ourselves in complete “sympathy” with the spirit that created the songs and were all shaking and even shedding involuntary tears of emotion. The Cantigas are a beautiful collection that consolidates Alfonso as the Virgin’s protegé, as King Solomon was. In addition to the knowledge he showed in his legislative and scientific writings, is his knowledge of God. Alfonso is a Wise and faithful King; in touch with Heavenly matters. The codices are also a personal work of penitence to fulfill the commitment made with the Virgin when the king became her troubadour. Every hundredth cantiga shows a route of artistic tenacity, personal authorship and the certainty of obtaining the reward of Paradise that he asks for in the final cantiga, when his days in this world end. Eduardo Paniagua