Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Galley Women and Children
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.
It was a common occurrence for women to be found upon galleys. Recall,
when the Moriscos were expelled, Moriscas (women) were placed on galleys,
and when corsairs raided coastal villages, women were captured to be sold
as slaves, transported by gallies. Children were slaves too, and were often
separated from parents, indeed, the Spanish Crown ordered children under
four years of age to be separated from Morisco parents.
The image above depicts Saint Vincent de Paul, the protector of Galley
slaves offering succor to those destined to the Gallies. One must be reminded
that the Pope maintained its own fleet of Galleys: protection of Galérien
was not extended to Papal Galley slaves, especially Huguenots! Thus the above
image is nothing but propaganda.
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