La Sablonara

The Cancionero de la Sablonara, compiled in Madrid between 1624 and 1625 by Claudio de la Sablonara for Wolfgang Wilhelm, Count of Neuburg, is one of the most important surviving sources of Spanish court music from the reign of Philip IV. Kept in Munich, it survived the destruction caused by the fire at the Royal Alcázar of Madrid in 1734. The manuscript brings together 75 polyphonic secular songs (tonos) by prominent composers such as Mateo Romero, Juan Blas de Castro, and Manuel Machado, and offers a vivid portrait of court life at the beginning of the 17th century: from highly expressive romances and folías to fiery fandangos and irresistible seguidillas.