The Flower of Grace

When the graceful and agile fingers of Hana Blažíková explore the strings of the Romanesque harp, colourful musical flowers come into bloom. She will create a whole bouquet of them – in vivid Spanish colours – in the Church of St. Martin in the Wall, watched over by a saint who did not hesitate to cut his cloak in half and gallantly share it with the most abject of beggars. The musical culture of chivalry is also reflected in title of the concert programme – The Flower of Grace.

Cantigas de Santa Maria, Llibre Vermell de Montserrat and Las Huelgas Codex are three gems of the musical heritage of medieval Spain that combine unusual melodies with elements of troubadour poetry and Gregorian chant, rhythms with an unmistakable Arabic character and an impassioned veneration of the Virgin Mary as the “shining star on the rugged mountain”. It is possible that some of these songs were written directly by King Alfonso X of Castile, known as the Wise, because the first of the codices was created in his court. Let us delve then into the world of medieval rulers and their heavenly kingdom…