Subh
Since first learning about Subh’s story some years ago, we have nurtured the idea of devoting a monographic project to this historical character. She lived in a fascinating period,
the Middle Ages, which was rich in sights and sounds as attractive to us as they are unfamiliar. As is so often the case, this initial attraction led to a huge task of musical and historical research, and that is precisely what we have tried to condense and capture in this CD-book.
Yet, as we examine ever more closely the figure of Subh the Basque through the texts and iconography, we find that a veil of hypocrisy and literary veneer overlay the criminal and degrading treatment of a real woman who was abducted, raped, abused, exploited, humiliated and perhaps even murdered… Such was the reality of Subh and of thousands of other women who, throughout the centuries and even in the present day, have been treated as merchandise or chattels in this world.
Cynicism, for example, is what we find in the institutions when they fail to recognise that, whether they like it or not, much of the early history of Spain was written in Arabic. We are Arabs, Christians, Jews, agnostics… we are all of that and none of that. Among other things, by turning our backs on part of ourselves and on our history, for example, the number of translations of texts of our medieval literature from their original Arabic is ridiculously small. Information about our past has yet to be translated and disseminated.
I. 10TH CENTURY, BIRTH OF SUBH, EARLY YEARS IN BASQUE COUNTRY
1. Ene Laztan Ederra ♮
Traditional Basque Dance-Marcabrú, 12th century 2:28
2. Dansa Reial ♮
Manuscript du Roi, s. XII 2:36
3. Cantiga 350 de Santa María ♮
Cantigas Alfonso X the Wise, 12th-13th century 2:20
4. Mawwal ♮
Poem by Ibn Zaydun (Cordoba, 1003-Seville, 1071) 3:47
5. Zid Uasqini-Rifqan´ala qalbi- btayhi de la Nuba ‘ushaq ♮
Traditional Andalusí 3:52
6. Verso Baskoien lur urtsuetan Supra Dies Irae ♮
Traditional-Julio Soto 2:47
7. Narrador: Leyenda de Kixmi. ♮
Recogida por José Miguel de Barandiarán: Eusko-Folklore, n.° IX 1:41
8. Versi de domna Leodegundia Regina ♮
Roda Codex, 10th century 1:34
9. Narrator: Campaign against Pamplona in 924. ♮
According to Kitab al-Muqtabis fi tarikh rijal al-Andalus (“Book of the history of al-Andalus”) by Ibn Hayyan (Cordoba, 987-1075) 1:12
10. Bashraf Huseyni ♮
Qul Muhammad, 14th century 1:45
11. Benedicamus Domino ♮
Las Huelgas Codex, 12th century 0:33
12.Narrator: Description of Navarre and the Navarrese in the Codex Calixtinus. ♮
Aymeric Picaud, 1160 1:44
13. Pasacalle supra Dies Irae ♮
Traditional 1:27
II. SUBH’S ARRIVAL IN CORDOBA AS THE CAPTIVE SUBH AL-BASKUNSIYA, SUBH THE BASQUE
14. Narrator: Journey of Queen Toda of Pamplona to Cordoba. ♮
According to Ibn Khaldun (Tunis, 1032- Cairo, 1406), taken from Ibn Hayyan 0:45
15. Tawashi – Basque Dance Azalandare ♮
Jarchas de la Nuba al-Isbihan. Traditional Andalusi, Romance. 12th to 15th centuries 4:04
16. Narrator: Discourse and poem on “The essence of love” in Tawq al-hamama (“The Ring of the Dove”) by Ibn Hazm (Cordoba, 994-Montijar, Huelva, 1064). ♮
Making reference to al-Hakam II and Subh 1:03
17. Porque Trobar ♮
Cantiga Alfonso X el Sabio, ss. XII-XIII 2:27
18.Narrator: Garden of Joy. ♮
According to the anonymous manuscript, Hadiqat al-Afrah, quoted by al-Maqqari (Tlemcen, 1578-Cairo, 1632) in Nafh al-tib min gusn al-Andalus al-ratib (“The fragrant breezes in the moist boughs of al-Andalus”) 3:06
19. Antiphona (Ordo in finem hominis diei) ♮
Canto Mozárabe, 12th century 2:52
20. Verso Berak nahi zuen doinuan supra Salve Porta ♮
Traditional-Julio Soto 2:48
III. SUBH, THE FAVOURITE OF CALIPH AL-HAKAM (AL-SAYYIDA-AL-KUBRA / GREAT LADY) AND MOTHER OF HIS CHILDREN (UMM-WALAD)
21. Narrator: Almanzor’s first steps. ♮
according to Ibn Hayyan of Cordoba in Kitab al-Muqtabis by Ibn Hayyan (Cordoba, 987-1075) 0:58
22. Dror Yikra ♮
Dunásh Ben Labrat, 11th century 3:52
23. Narrator: Farewell of Caliph Al-Hakam and Subh. ♮
according to Ibn Hayyan of Cordoba in Kitab al-Muqtabis by Ibn Hayyan (Cordoba, 987-1075) 0:49
24. San’a de Qaim wa nisf Hiyaz Kabir ♮
Traditional Andalusí 2:34
IV. SUBH RULES THE CALIPHATE AS HER SON HISHAM’S REGENT
25. Narrator: Subh’s political importance. ♮
according to Dhikr bilad al-Andalus (“Mention of the country of al-Andalus”), anonymous, 14th 15th centuries 0:42
26. Salve porta, f 119 · Las Huelgas Codex♮
Traditional Basque chant, 12th century 2:35
27. Narrator: Almanzor receives Sancho Garcés II, known as Abarca, in Cordoba, in 992. ♮
According to Ibn al-Khatib (Loja, 1313-Fez, 1374) in Kitab a‘mal al-a’lam (“Book of the Deeds of Illustrious Men”) 2:02
28. Twixya Hiyaz kabir ♮
1:24
29. Moaxaja de Ahmad♮
al-Tutíli “El Ciego de Tudela” (Tudela, 1091-Seville,1145) 3:28
V. RUPTURE BETWEEN SUBH AND ALMANZOR AND DEATH OF SUBH
30. Narrator: Almanzor seizes the treasury of the caliphate in 996.♮
according to Ibn Hayyan in Kitab al-Muqtabis by Ibn Hayyan (Cordoba, 987-1075). Txalaparta-Improvisation 2:02
31. Verso Agota, Balere Artxu (1780)♮
Traditional Basque melody 3:15
32. Narrator: Death of Subh in 998. ♮
According to Dhikr bilad al-Andalus (“Mention of the country of al-Andalus”) 0:24
33. Belatxa♮
Traditional Basque Melody from the Pyrenees 1:53
34. Virgo Virginum♮
Codex Las Huelgas, 12th century 4:30
EUSKAL BARROK ENSEMBLE
Omar Jaydi – Canto
Rosario La Tremendita – Cantaora
Alena Dantcheva – Soprano
Mariví Blasco – Soprano
Maite Arruabarrena – Mezzosoprano
Jon Etxabe – Tenor
Maika Etxekopar – Canto y recitadora
Julio Soto – Bertsolari
Omar Metioui – Oud
Begoña Olavide – Canto y salterio
Miren Zeberio Etxetxipia – Rabeles y fídulas
Vicente Parrilla – Flautas de pico
Mouaad Rabie – Oud soprano
Mixel Etxekopar – Txirula, alboka y tttunttun
Ricardo Ortiz – Trompeta bastarda y añafil
Daniel Oyarzabal – Organetto
Lixsania Fernández – Viela y canto
Daniel Garay – Percusión
David Mayoral – Percusión
Said Ben Guerche – Darbuka
Mikel Ugarte e Iñaki Iriarte – Txalaparta
Enrike Solinís – Laúd andalusí, guiterna y dirección
OTROS ALBUMES
