51³ÉÈËÁÔÆæ

Course Description

Summary

In the Middle Ages, Spain was a fascinating confluence of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish cultures. At times antagonistic, at times cooperative, at times positively cozy, the chemistry between these three cultures was red-hot, gorgeous, and endlessly creative. In this course, we will form a medieval Spanish band to investigate medieval Spain's musical traditions, particularly as revealed in the massive collection of songs known as the Cantigas de Santa Maria. Although we will focus on the Cantigas de Santa Maria, we will also look at sister traditions such as Hispano-Arabic song, troubadour song, and the secular cantigas de amigo. Everyone must sing; acoustic instruments are optional but welcome. A willingness to experiment with performance techniques for voices and instruments is necessary. Internet access is also necessary for the course.