Composer

:

Alfonso X (el Sabio)

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Average_duration

:

5:13

The Cantiga de Santa María 176, Soltar pode muit' agynna os presos e os liados, was composed by Alfonso X (el Sabio) in the 13th century. It is part of a collection of over 400 songs dedicated to the Virgin Mary, known as the Cantigas de Santa María. The premiere of this particular cantiga is unknown, but it was likely performed in the royal court of Alfonso X. The Cantiga de Santa María 176 is a monophonic song, meaning it has only one melody line. It is written in Galician-Portuguese, a language spoken in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. The song is divided into three stanzas, each with a refrain that repeats after each verse. The melody is simple and repetitive, with a lively rhythm that reflects the joyful nature of the lyrics. The lyrics of the Cantiga de Santa María 176 tell the story of a man who is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. He prays to the Virgin Mary for help, and she appears to him in a dream, telling him to have faith and trust in her. The man wakes up and finds that his chains have been miraculously broken, and he is able to escape from prison. The song celebrates the power of the Virgin Mary to free the oppressed and the imprisoned. The Cantiga de Santa María 176 is typical of the Cantigas de Santa María in its use of vivid imagery and storytelling to convey religious themes. The songs were intended to be performed in the context of religious festivals and processions, and they were often accompanied by dance and other forms of performance. The Cantigas de Santa María were an important part of the cultural and religious life of medieval Spain, and they continue to be studied and performed today as a testament to the rich musical heritage of the region.

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