Cantigas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A collection of medieval Spanish or Portuguese songs, often celebrating themes of love, chivalry, and religious devotion
2. A type of lyrical poetry from the Iberian Peninsula that is typically set to music, showcasing cultural narratives and traditions
3. A genre of chansons from the medieval era, characterized by storytelling through verse and melody, reflecting societal values and customs

Etymology: Latin "canticum," a song, gave Portuguese and Galician "cantiga," and the plural form is what English borrowed. In the medieval courts of the Iberian Peninsula the term came to name a whole tradition of lyric poetry written in Galician-Portuguese, most of it meant to be sung. The best-known collection is attributed to Alfonso X of Castile. Its roughly 420 songs praise the Virgin Mary, and many include musical notation and illustrations of performers. Other songs were grouped by theme. The "amigo" songs are voiced by a woman longing for her lover, while the "amor" songs are spoken by a male poet addressing his lady.