The Flower of Grace

Virgin Mary in Spanish Medieval Music

Thursday 30. 07. 2020 | 19.30 Church of St. Martin in the Wall
Martinská 8, Praha 1

Programme

Cantigas de Santa Maria
Virgen, madre groriosa
Por nos de dulta tirar
Santa Maria leva
Quen serve Santa Maria

Llibre Vermell de Montserrat
Stella splendens in monte
Imperayritz de la ciudad joyosa
Los setz goytxs

Codex Las Huelgas
Mulieris marcens venter
Virgo virginum
Non orphanum te deseram
Fontis in rivulum

Concert without intermission. Expected end of the concert 20.45.

Artists

romanian harp

Annotation

When the graceful and agile fingers of Hana Blažíková explore the strings of the Romanesque harp, colourful musical flowers come into bloom. She will create a whole bouquet of them – in vivid Spanish colours – in the Church of St. Martin in the Wall, watched over by a saint who did not hesitate to cut his cloak in half and gallantly share it with the most abject of beggars. The musical culture of chivalry is also reflected in title of the concert programme – The Flower of Grace.

 

Cantigas de Santa Maria, Llibre Vermell de Montserrat and Las Huelgas Codex are three gems of the musical heritage of medieval Spain that combine unusual melodies with elements of troubadour poetry and Gregorian chant, rhythms with an unmistakable Arabic character and an impassioned veneration of the Virgin Mary as the “shining star on the rugged mountain”. It is possible that some of these songs were written directly by King Alfonso X of Castile, known as the Wise, because the first of the codices was created in his court. Let us delve then into the world of medieval rulers and their heavenly kingdom…

Venue

Church of St. Martin in the Wall

Martinská 8, Praha 1

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