Romancero

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Romancero

Romancero, akin to the ballad, originated in medieval Spain, often depicting royal intrigue, betrayals, and war captives, though not always tied to Jewish life. Some, however, have biblical themes from Jewish sources. Structurally, it consists of consecutive rhyming lines, with every two forming a repeating musical unit. Passed orally from mother to daughter, Romancero served various roles—accompanying women’s work and functioning as lullabies. Their soothing melodies calmed infants, while engaging narratives held older children’s attention. Often texts traveled between Moroccan and Balkan Jewish communities.

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Lyrics A cazar iba el caballero, a cazar como solía, los perros le iban cazando, el halcón perdido iba. ¿Dónde le cogió la noche? en una oscura montiña, donde canta la leona y el león...
Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: NSA Y5479/3 Referenced and notated in: Romansero Sefardi de Oriente Editorial Alpuerto S.A. 2010 Susana Weich-Shahak
Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: Yc1097/33 Referenced and notated in: Romancero Sefardi de Oriente, pg. 124, Editorial Alpuerto, 2010 Susana Weich-Shahak. This is a partial version of a humorous Romansa about adultery. Text - Burjula,...
Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: Referenced and notated in: Romansero Sefardi de Oriente Editorial Alpuerto S.A. 2010 Susana Weich-Shahak