Perpetua servitum iudaeorum

In a political and social climate of growing tension, disinformation policies and hate speech, cultural agents have the power to inspire values of peaceful coexistence and to counter the xenophobic narrative. In this programme, we address the political oppression and religious persecution wrought upon Sephardic communities during the reign of Alfonso X “The Wise”, a period usually portrayed as one of harmonious multicultural coexistence. Both in the Cantigas de Santa María and in the Sephardic ballads we find examples of anti-Semitism, violence and persecution.

Through a selection of music and texts from 13th century Spain, we want to show the dissonance between a political discourse which, through the publication of the Siete Partidas or the founding of the Escuelas de Traductores, appeared welcoming and multicultural, but which, in practice, failed to protect the Jews and Mudejars who inhabited the peninsula.

With this programme, Entrebescant seeks to show a reality hidden by the historical narrative, while at the same time highlighting the danger of populism and the dissociation between political discourse and human realities.

The Perpetua servitus iudaeorum ‘perpetual servitude of the Jews’ was imposed in 1234, by decree of Pope Gregory IX. The Jews were to remain in spiritual and political servitude until the Day of Judgement.

PROGRAM

1199: Inocencio III promulga la Constitutio pro Judaeis

I. La galana y el mar (instrumental)
II. CSM 2: Muito devemos varones loar a Santa Maria

1234: Gregory IX impone la Perpetua servitus Judaeorum

III. CSM 3: Mais nos faz Santa Maria a seu fillo perdonar
IIII. Romance: Cuando vuelven los de Israel
V. CSM 4: A madre do que livrou dos leones Daniel

1248: Fernando III conquista Sevilla

VI. A la nana y a la buba se dormia
VII. CSM 6. A que do bon rei Davi de seu linnage decende
VIII. Avrixmi galanica ke ya va amaneçer

c. 1260: Alfonso X defiende a los judios en sus Leyes de Partidas

VIIII. CSM 12: O que a Santa Maria mais despraz

1391: Masacre antisemita y expulsión de los judíos de Sevilla

X. Romance: Irme quero por estos campos