Polorum Regina, a Spanish Pilgrim Song
An entry to the 2022 Persona Development Challenge by Iselda de Narbonne and Matthaeus DuPuy
Entry:
For our arts and sciences entry we have recorded a version of the pilgrim song “Polorum Regina” from the Red Book of Montserrat (Llibre Vermell de Montserrat). Please click the link below to see and listen to the entry.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw50BnqOsww&authuser=0
Historical Context:
The Red Book of Montserrat (Llibre Vermell de Montserrat in Catalan) is a devotional manuscript compiled around the year 1399 CE. The dating of the manuscript is speculative but a date range of 1397 to 1400 CE is now considered most likely, although it is possible some of the work was copied from an older source. The manuscript was for many years housed at the Shrine of the Virgin of Montserrat in Catalonia. The monastery contains a statue of a Madonna and Child done in the Romanesque period, probably in the late 12th century CE. This statue is the focus of devotion at the monastery, which has served as a place of pilgrimage since at least 1203 CE and is one of the famous “Black Madonnas” of the high medieval period.
The Black Virgin
(Source: https://www.britannica.com/place/Montserrat-mountain-Spain)
The Red Book consists of 172 double pages (32 of which are now lost). Of these, six pages contain music, including this tune, entitled “Polorum Regina.” The title of the tune is cryptic as the subject is obviously the Virgin Mary, but the significance of “Polorum” is unknown. This may be a reference to the nation of Poland (which has historically been closely linked to the Virgin Mary) or might be a reference to the Latin word polus for “sky” of “heaven,” which was absorbed into English as “pole” to describe a fixed point of reference (such as the pole-star). In Latin, as in English, the word for “pole” is a homonym.
The anonymous author/complier of the work provides the following explanation of why the book was written:
“Because the pilgrims wish to sing and dance while they keep their watch at night in the church of the Blessed Mary of Montserrat, and also in the light of day; and in the church no songs should be sung unless they are chaste and pious, for that reason these songs that appear here have been written. And these should be used modestly, and take care that no one who keeps watch in prayer and contemplation is disturbed.”
Evidently the authorities at the shrine were concerned about the possibility of mischief or impiety amongst the pilgrims and, as a result, one of the reasons for the creation of this work- especially the songs- was to provide alternative outlets for the pilgrims’ social energies.
Tune:
Despite the manuscript’s having been compiled around 1399 CE, the structure of the songs suggests that the tunes contained therein are probably older by a century or more. The tunes were composed in mensural notation, the precursor to modern standard musical notation. As a result we know the length of each note in relation to the others, and we also know the harmonic value of the note. However, given the lack of a time signature, the tempo of the performance is somewhat speculative. The tune begins with the chorus being played on the hummelchen, or medieval smallpipes, followed by a drone with vocalization of the words. The tune ends with a combined chorus of smallpipes and vocals. It is performed in C Major.
Music and Text of Polorum Regina (left)
(source: https://dick.wursten.be/index.html)
The drone is played at the tonic note of the tune, in this case a low C. This sparse arrangement allows for a clean, easy backdrop which provides a simple interval for the vocal range of Iselda to shine. The terminus of the song by the playing of the chorus in unison with Iselda’s singing bring the song to a satisfying, unified conclusion.
In the interest of full disclosure- there is no evidence of bagpipes having two drones prior to the mid-15th century. Use of a second drone in this performance is thus anachronistic, but nevertheless provides for the possibility of deeper harmonies.
Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey
(source: www.barcelona.de)
Thank you for your interest and feel free to find us at the Shire of Roxbury Mill pavilion with comments, questions, or suggestions!
Lyrics:
Latin:
Polorum regina omnium nostra
Stella matutina dele scelera
Ante partum virgo deo gravida.
Semper permansisti inviolata
Stella matutina dele scelera
Et in partu virgo deo fecunda.
Semper permansisti inviolata
Stella matutina dele scelera
Et post partum virgo mater enixa.
Semper permansisti inviolata
Stella matutina dele scelera.
English:
Our queen encompassing all of heaven,
morning star, take away our sins.
Before birth, Virgin, pregnant by God,
you remained always inviolate.
morning star, take away our sins.
And in labour, Virgin, fertile by God,
you remained always inviolate.
morning star, take away our sins.
And after birth, Virgin, child-bearing mother
you remained always inviolate.
morning star, take away our sins.