Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Galleass (round forecastle in place of arrumbada)
The music is Morisco music, found on Iberian Garden, Vol. 1 by
Altramar. The piece is Muwashshah: Mā li-l-muwallah, 1113-1198.
This music takes place at the beautiful gardens along the Guadalquiver, near Cordoba.
This is during the "convivencia" under Alfonso X (El Sabio - The Wise), the time
before Granda fell: when Christians, Moslems and Jews lived at peace with each
other. Muwashshah are songs in poetic form, with instrumental interludes in the
form of Ibn Bājja (Avempace): 1470-1520. This is Morisco art.
The galleass had a circular forecastle with several guns
supporting cannon fire forward as well as to the port and
starboard. Thus galleasses gave protection against being
raked as well as supporting more cannons, and lastly more
protection.