Composer

:

Kiya Tabassian

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

2005

Average_duration

:

6:06

"Louange à la mer (after the Cantigas de Santa Maria)" is a contemporary composition by Kiya Tabassian, a Canadian-Iranian musician and composer. The piece was composed in 2017 and premiered on May 5, 2018, at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal, Canada. The composition is inspired by the Cantigas de Santa Maria, a collection of over 400 songs written in Galician-Portuguese during the 13th century. The Cantigas were composed in praise of the Virgin Mary and were widely popular throughout the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. "Louange à la mer" is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different Cantiga. The first movement is based on Cantiga 10, which tells the story of a sailor who is saved from a storm by the Virgin Mary. The second movement is based on Cantiga 100, which praises the Virgin Mary for her protection of sailors and fishermen. The third movement is based on Cantiga 159, which tells the story of a sailor who is saved from drowning by the Virgin Mary. The composition features a blend of traditional and contemporary instruments, including the setar, a Persian lute, and the kamancheh, a bowed string instrument. The use of these instruments, along with the incorporation of electronic sounds, creates a unique and modern interpretation of the Cantigas. Overall, "Louange à la mer" is a beautiful and evocative composition that pays homage to the rich musical traditions of the Iberian Peninsula while also incorporating contemporary elements. Its use of traditional and modern instruments, along with its three distinct movements, make it a captivating and memorable piece of music.

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