Cancionero de diversas obras de nuevo trobadas

Cancionero de diversas obras de nuevo trobadas

The famous author and translator Ambrosio Montesino composed one of the most beautiful and high-quality books of his entire career in the year 1508. It is the Songbook of Various Works by the New Troubadours, or so the title translates into English. The precious book represents a mix of song texts for prayer and meditation and is nonetheless furnished with fascinating stories in prose. A few high-quality printed graphic depictions, e.g. the fantastic title page of the codex, lends the early-modern document its very exceptional charm.

The Monk Ambrosio

The Spaniard Ambrosio Montesino was a cleric, poet, and translator of the Castilian Renaissance. He lived sometime between 1444 and 1514 and was already affiliated in his youth with the Order of Friars Minor – better known as the Franciscan Order - in Toledo. His love of the literature of his time induced him to write poetic texts and stories in prose himself. The well-read Isabella I of Castile was among his greatest patrons, she read all of Monk Ambrosio’s texts and encouraged his talent through her good advice. He finally achieved his breakthrough when he published his Cancionero in 1508. The unbelievably beloved work was continuously reproduced throughout the 16th century, it was a true best seller at the end of the Middle Ages. Ambrosio was identified by the famous Spanish literary historian Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo as the best author of prose during his lifetime.

Spiritual Songs and Worldly Stories

The enchanting small book was completely written by Ambrosio Montesoni and translated into several languages. This work was commissioned by Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, the Archbishop of Toledo. In the edition of the work before us, every verse begins with an initial “for King Ferdinand Our Lord”. The author himself, who pipes us throughout the entire text, explains the document in the following way: “Our excellence asked me to compile all the studies of the mysteries of our faith, and I decided to unite devotional hymns and tales from the past and present and now, since I have had a break from my activities as a priest, I have made this work according to his wishes. I have written down everything therein and given it over to the printer, which helps to serve you and our God…”