Marian Devotion Through Music, Lyric, and Miracle Narrative in the Cantigas de Santa Maria

The Cantigas de Santa Maria were compiled by King Alfonso X the Wise of Castile (r. 1252-1284), amidst an upsurge of Marian devotion and a simultaneous proliferation of vernacular poetry and monophonic music, all outgrowths of the twelfth century. This thesis shows not just that music, lyric, and narrative converge in the cantigas de miragro (miracle songs), but that it is specifically the form that allows the melody of the refrain to connect the moral of the song, expressed lyrically during the refrain, to the miracle narrative presented in the verses. Selections from the Toledo Codex illustrate that the cantigas’ melodies, which are deployed using two specific musical forms, virelai and Andalusian rondeau, reinforce their devotional intent. The musical structure strengthens both story and moral in each cantiga, thus joining music, lyric, and narrative to allow Cantigas de Santa Maria to be a uniquely powerful vehicle for Marian devotion.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music History

Grantor dc:publisher

Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Granda, Victoria C.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rothenberg, David

• Music
• Middle Ages
• Cantigas de Santa Maria
• medieval Spain
• Alfonso el Sabio
• Alfonso the Wise
• Alfonso X
• thirteenth-century
• Marian devotion
• medieval narrative
• virelai
• medieval lyric
• cantigas

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: some rights reserved. It is licensed for use under a Creative Commons license. Specific terms and permissions are available from this document's record in the OhioLINK ETD Center.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1365170590

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:case1365170590