Composer

:

Martin Codax

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Cantiga

Average_duration

:

3:53

"Quantas sabedes amare amigo" is a medieval Galician-Portuguese cantiga de amigo, composed by Martin Codax in the 13th century. The exact date of composition is unknown, but it is believed to have been written between 1230 and 1270. The cantiga is one of the most famous works of Codax and is considered a masterpiece of medieval Galician-Portuguese poetry. The cantiga de amigo is a genre of medieval Galician-Portuguese poetry that focuses on the emotions and experiences of a young woman who is separated from her lover. "Quantas sabedes amare amigo" is a typical example of this genre, as it tells the story of a young woman who is waiting for her lover to return from the sea. The cantiga is composed of three stanzas, each with six lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCC, and the meter is trochaic tetrameter. The cantiga is sung to a simple melody, which is believed to have been composed by Codax himself. The first stanza of the cantiga describes the young woman's longing for her lover. She asks the birds and the flowers if they have seen her lover and tells them to send him back to her. The second stanza describes the young woman's sadness and despair as she waits for her lover. She says that she cannot eat or sleep and that her heart is heavy with sorrow. The third stanza describes the young woman's joy and happiness when her lover finally returns. She says that she will never let him go again and that she will love him forever. The cantiga is characterized by its simple language and its emotional intensity. The young woman's feelings of longing, sadness, and joy are expressed in a straightforward and direct manner, which makes the cantiga easy to understand and relate to. The cantiga is also characterized by its musicality, as the simple melody and the trochaic meter give the poem a rhythmic and lyrical quality. "Quantas sabedes amare amigo" was first performed in the court of King Alfonso X of Castile, who was a patron of the arts and a supporter of Galician-Portuguese poetry. The cantiga has since become one of the most famous works of medieval Galician-Portuguese poetry and has been performed and recorded by many musicians and singers.

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