Extremadura, the land along the border with Portugal, was the scene of many miracles during the long-drawn-out re-conquest, which required almost 200 years in this area, ending during the reign of Alfonso el Sabio. Ten miracle songs are collected on this disc, all but one of them sung (and sung complete). By my count, only three have ever been recorded before, only one of them complete. Paniagua's approach to the songs, using solo voices for the verses with choral refrains, along with lively instrumental accompaniment, has proved successful throughout this long series of discs, and it is very effective here.
In their sixteenth disc of cantigas, Paniagua's group is more successful than some other ensembles at capturing the spirit of these songs, which represent a popular form of devotion that is far from the liturgical music of the period. After all, these songs were entertainment at court, though not less pious or sincere in their devotion than music in church. All of the stories told in this group of songs are miracles that occurred in Extremadura, where several shrines to the Blessed Virgin were centers of devotion. One miracle story focuses on the reverence for the Blessed Virgin among the Moors, or a child is brought back from the dead, or deadly wounds or illness are overcome. In less spectacular events, a fight ends without injury or stolen property is recovered, always by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. More and more, we appreciate the vast repertoire that Alfonso collected. JEROME F. WEBER