Cantigas de Santa Maria - Cantiga 119

[Gabriel J. Ferrer]

I thought it would be interesting to arrange melodies from the medieval collection of the Cantigas de Santa Maria (of King Alfonso X of Spain) for solo mandolin. I play the melody on the E and A strings, and use the D (and sometimes A) strings for drone accompaniment.

Here is the arrangement for Cantiga 119:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN2j5lvZBlg

I hope you enjoy it, and I'd be interested in feedback as to how it works.

[JH Murray]

I've always enjoyed playing the Cantigas on the mandolin. Such a delight to hear.

[Martin Jonas]

Nicely played!

The Cantigas are fun, and as the surviving notation is so rudimentary, there are a lot of ways to play around with them, with various degrees of "historically informed" adaptation and instrumentation.

I recorded two of the cantigas on mandolin a few years ago:

Cantiga 353: Quen a Omagen da Virgen

Cantiga 166: Ond' aveo a un ome

Martin

[Gabriel J. Ferrer]

Thanks for sharing those! I especially liked the Cantiga 353 arrangement.

[Gelsenbury]

That's a very nice video! I learnt this cantiga at one point, but never recorded it. Your version has just the spirit I was trying for.