Stella Splendens - Medieval Song feat. Nieves Hidalgo

Vocals by Nieves Hidalgo, Ibrahim Charaf and Ila M, oud by Ido Romano. This is a reworking of a version I had made over two years ago. Much of the reworking focused on emphasising the Iberian nature of this piece, with the song being from the Iberian peninsula in the 1300’s. Whilst most renditions employ a generic medieval sound with anachronistic modern Western European delivery, it is known that medieval styles of singing in Europe were far more melismatic, ornamented, and resembled current Meditteranean or Middle-Eastern styles rather than the commonly used form of singing that arose from the Renaissance onwards. As it is known that the English and Germans sang in such a manner up until the 1200’s when the style would begin dying out, it is almost unimaginable that Spain, with centuries of Islamic influence, would not have had similar forms of singing, hence why I brought on the extremely talented Nieves Hidalgo to sing this. Nieves comes from a flamenco background, and unlike oversimplifications that suggest flamenco is a wholly Roma or Arabic form, historical data clearly shows that flamenco is a product of a much wider context that once applied to all of Europe, and I believe this vocal style to therefore be the most continuous with more ancient Iberian musical practices. This song is part of the Llibre Vermell de Montserrat, a 14th century manuscript from Catalonia containing a number of devotional songs such as this one, meant for dancing. Lyrics in Latin: Stella splendens in monte ut solis radium miraculis serrato exaudi populum. Concurrunt universi gaudentes populi divites et egeni grandes et parvuli ipsum ingrediuntur ut cernunt oculi et inde revertuntur gracijis repleti. Principes et magnates extirpe regia saeculi potestates obtenta venia peccaminum proclamant tundentes pectora poplite flexo clamant hic: Ave Maria. Prelati et barones comites incliti religiosi omnes atque presbyteri milites mercatores cives marinari burgenses piscatores praemiantur ibi. Rustici aratores nec non notarii advocati scultores cuncti ligni fabri sartores et sutores nec non lanifici artifices et omnes gratulantur ibi. Translation in English: Resplendent star on the mountain like a sunbeam Miracles from Montserrat, hear the people. From all around they rally, rejoicing, Rich and poor, young and old, They assemble here to see with their own eyes, And return from it filled with grace. (Refrain) Rulers and magnates of royal stripew, The world’s mighty, having obtained indulgence For their sin, they cry out and beating their breast They kneel and cry thus: Ave Maria. Prelates and barons, famous counts, All kinds of monks and yet priests, Soldiers, merchants, citizens, sailors, Burgers and fishermen are recompensed here. Peasants, ploughmen and also scribes, Advocates, stone-masons and all carpenters, Tailors and shoemakers, and weavers as well, All kinds of craftsmen rejoice here.