Cantiga: Martha's Blog

Villasirga

Posted on July 12, 2010 with 7 comments

In 1157 the Castillian king Sancho III invited the Knights Templar to protect the Santiago road and they made Villasirga their base.The church they built is Iglesia de Santa Maria la Blanca.It is huge.From a long way away you can see the chuch,long before the village dwarfed by it becomes visable.Alfonso el Sabio dedicated twelve cantigas to the Virgen Blanca.They are 217, 218, 253, 268, 278, 313, 355, and 227, 229, 232. 234,and 243.

You can understand that I was excited to be there.I spent some time on the church and found Alfonso's Virgen and was quite moved.

That evening there was to be a concert after the pilgrims blessing and before the service I went to the church and heard the guitarist warming up.I introduced myself and asked if he was going to play any cantigas and he admitted that he really did not know any.He then did a very generous thing and invited me to join him and play my harp in his concert.So,after traveling many miles I finally am playing for THE Virgen that inspired the book.

Douglas S. Kondziolka

July 26, 2010

Martha:

Your trip sounds truly magical. Warm thoughts go out to you. Christmas here was lovely - although it was a bit strange doing it without you. Next week Formal Bocci!

Missing you.

Be well. Stay inspired. Blessed Be!

Pennie Young

July 23, 2010

Wow, Martha ! What an amazing and wonderful woman you are! And what an incredible pilgrimage you have undertaken....I cannot wait to hear more, and see pictures ! Many blessing for your health and safety.
Love....Pennie

sarah

July 21, 2010

hi! i am the bbc correspondent in spain, trying to get in touch with you. do you have a phone number? or can you email me where you are / where you might be in the first week of august? we will be filming in galicia and would be keen to meet you if at all possible. many thanks
sarah 00 34 617 087 019

Nancy Williams

July 18, 2010

I love harp music. I attended the Colorado Renaissance Festival today and witnessed many talented musicians, including a harpist.
Nancy
http://nrwilliams.blogspot.com/

Ruth Helpert-Nunez

July 18, 2010

I'm so glad that you are getting to do the things you set out on your journey to do.

cipriano

July 15, 2010

te deseo un gran viaje, me parece fantástico el esfuerzo que haces y la música que tocas.

Doc

July 12, 2010

Magnificent. You are moving through and playing for the very places and objects that have been the heart of your musical career.

I'm continually impressed by your encyclopedic knowledge of the cantigas! You can just reel off a series of them that relate to pilgrims' miracles, or to the Virgen Blanca. I can remember melodies just fine; but can't seem to keep it in my head which melody goes with what number, and I don't know any of the specific stories of any of them.

Did you encounter any of the World Cup frenzy yesterday with the Spanish victory?