Cancionero de Lope de Stúñiga: Códice del siglo XV.

A long‑lost manuscript from the fifteenth century finally emerges from the shadows of Spanish archives, offering listeners a rare glimpse into the world of medieval courtly song. Compiled by Lope de Stúñiga, the collection gathers the elegant verses of poets such as Manrique, Macías, and Sánchez de Badajoz, whose delicate melodies once echoed through the chambers of Castile’s aristocracy. The opening pages set the tone with a scholarly preface that debates the value of this refined poetry, inviting you to reconsider the “cortesana” tradition that centuries of criticism have dismissed as overly ornate.

As the songs unfold, you’ll hear love rendered in layered metaphors, gallant knights swapping swords for lyrical quills, and subtle references to legendary heroes like El Cid and Fernán González. The verses balance courtly modesty with a hidden passion, revealing how the poets used form and meaning to give voice to their inner lives. Listening to this codex feels like stepping into a hidden salon, where ancient words still resonate with the same yearning for beauty and expression.