Composer

:

Alfonso X (el Sabio)

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

7:41

The Cantiga de Santa María 391, Como pod' a Groriosa os mortos fazer viver, was composed by Alfonso X (el Sabio) in the 13th century. It is a part of the Cantigas de Santa María, a collection of over 400 songs dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Cantiga 391 is one of the most famous and popular songs in the collection. The premiere of the Cantiga 391 is not known, but it was likely performed in the royal court of Alfonso X. The song is written in Galician-Portuguese, the language of the troubadours and the courtly love tradition of the time. It is a hymn to the power of the Virgin Mary to bring the dead back to life. The Cantiga 391 is divided into three movements. The first movement is a recitative, in which the narrator describes the scene of a funeral procession. The second movement is a dialogue between the narrator and the Virgin Mary, in which the narrator asks for her help in bringing the dead back to life. The third movement is a joyful celebration of the miracle, in which the dead rise from their graves and praise the Virgin Mary. The Cantiga 391 is characterized by its simple and repetitive melody, which is typical of the troubadour tradition. The melody is accompanied by a drone, which creates a hypnotic effect. The lyrics are simple and direct, and they express a deep faith in the power of the Virgin Mary to perform miracles. The Cantiga 391 is a masterpiece of medieval music, and it is still performed and recorded today. It is a testament to the enduring power of the Virgin Mary as a symbol of hope and faith.

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