Alarifes Mudéjares

Artist: Eduardo Paniagua
Label: Karon
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1
EAN: 8428353017018
ASIN: B00003Q4SW

Release Date: 1999-11-16

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The Spanish Mudejar/Al-Andalus/Sephardic musical legacy

Tracks:

Secuencia Constructiva
Barca Tierra de Nadie
Fuente Arte Efímero-Arte Eterno
Alfombra Arte Colectivo y Espacio Colectivo
Velas de Pronto Se Llenó
Almuédano
Yeserías
Baños y Aljibes
Fiesta de Santa María
En el Atrio
Albañil Mudéjar
Capilla de Azulejos
Oracíón de Medio Día

Customer Reviews:

A gorgeous journey back through time..........2004-10-04

While living in northern Spain (Burgos, Castilla y Leýn), I travelled to Cuýllar. Part of my trip involved visiting the castle and Mudýjar church of St. Martýn de Cuýllar (built in the 12th century). Inside the church, we participated in a multimedia journey through the church's construction by Jewish, Christian and Moorish craftsmen during the Convivýncia, the period of time when the three religions coexisted peacefully in Spain. This CD is the soundtrack to the multimedia exhibit, and stands alone well, recorded between 1995-1999. The composer, Eduardo Paniagua, is also a talented multi-instrumentalist, playing psaltery, flutes, cymbals, drums and effects.

A brief note: as the majority of Spain was under Moorish control from 711-1492 AD, Islamic poetry, artwork and music greatly influenced Spanish culture. The word "mudýjar" refers to Muslims who lived and worked in northern Spain's Christian society. An alarife was an architect. Mudýjar architecture is characterized by ornate plasterwork in geometric designs, repeating arches, and the extensive use of brick.

Each track covers a specific theme regarding the construction, including pillars, arches, and vaults, plasterwork, the atrium, bricklaying, tile laying, etc. Arabic instruments (derbuka, oud, dulcimer, nay, a muezzin chanting) are interspersed with nature sounds (frogs, crickets, fountains, water). On the haunting "La Alfombra," sacred chants from the three traditions (Gregorian chant, Judaic ceremonial chant, and Islamic chant) are fused. There is even an appearance from the Cantiga of Alfonso X El Sabio (Fiesta de Santa Marýa). I will never forget "Las Velas: De pronto se llený"--at that point in the exhibit, we each took a candle and lit a grid of candles in the floor one by one, accompanied by the waltzing, Celtic rhythms of flute, tinkling bells, and dulcimer as the candle flames danced.

The CD case and liner notes are gorgeous and well-documented, including bilingual (Spanish/English) history for each track, a brief history of Mudýjar art and medieval Spanish history, the religious background of La Convivýncia, and more. The artwork is reproduced from miniatures from Alfonso X's "Cantigas de Santa Marýa", photos of San Martýn, Mudýjar tapestries and plasterwork, and conceptual sketches of the church's interpretation centre.

Not strictly a historical recording of Mudýjar music (of which there are many, both in Spain and abroad, although fewer in number), but a fascinating interpretation of an important moment in Spanish history, as well as a beautiful collaboration of Islamic, Jewish and Christian medieval sacred music.

(More information on the town of Cuýllar (a bastion of Mudýjar architecture and the home of the Church of San Martýn, for which this music was composed), can be found at www.aytocuellar.es)

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