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Presented at the 1981 International Popular Education Festival, Marly-le-Roi , France
Two one-hour programs presenting the great Old Spanish epic epic Poema de Mio Cid , with performance of the 12 th century text by Edmund de Chasca, translations by W. S. Merwin, and music composed and performed by Henri Agnel. Script by Billy Bussell Thompson. Narration by Earl Hammond. Mixed by David Rapkin. The programs were originally broadcast over WNYC-FM in New York City .
W. S. Merwin's translation is used with the kind permission of J. M. Dent and Company.
Samuel Armistead, Univ. of Pennsylvania
Alan Deyermond, Westfield College , London and Princeton University
Israel Katz, York College , CUNY
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The exiled hero Rodrigo Diaz (the Cid) fights to regain the King’s favor in 11th century Spain. Jimena’s prayer for the Cid’s safe return. The siege of Castejon, and the capture of Valencia. Commentary breaks on the historical background, authorship and context, the musical accompaniment, and characterization of the Cid.
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The defeat of King Yusuf of Morocco. The Cid’s daughters marry the Heirs of Carrion. The Heirs’ disgraceful behavior and the Cid’s revenge. Includes the story of the Lion. Commentary breaks on textual origins and the debate over authorship: the individualist view vs. evidence for a learned author. |
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 Who's the Boss?
The name “The Cid” comes from the Arabic al-sayyid, from the root saada meaning “to become master, chieftain or overlord . ” In Classical Arabic al-sayyid meant “sir” or “gentleman.” It has become the word for “mister” in modern Arabic. So “El Cid” might best be translated as “The Master,” or in contemporary American English simply as “The Man.” |
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- 1.28 MB PDF - The Poem of the Cid, Part II |
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-7.44 MB mp3 - 10:35 of The Poem of the Cid, Part II |
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- 2-CD set of The Poem of the Cid Part I & II |
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Once fondly referred to as “the Dean of American medievalists,” Edmund de Chasca was born in Guatemala . After attending the University of Chicago , where he obtained a doctorate in 1941, he went on to the University of Iowa , where he served as Head of the Department of Romance Languages until 1967, and continued thereafter as Professor of Spanish Literature. In 1972 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for Comparative Studies of Cid Ballads. He is the author of five books, published in Mexico , Spain , and the United States , and of numerous essays in professional journals. This is the only known recording of him performing the Poema de mio Cid .
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Henri Agnel was born in Rabat , Morocco in 1952 into a family of musicians. His formal training began at age five with choral singing in Rabat . The family tradition of lyric singing, mandolin, guitar and violin is a rich mix of classical French and indiginous Moroccan (Arab and Berber) music. Henri studied Classical and Flamenco guitar with Jac q ues Florencie Wilmann and oud with Mounir Bachir. He joined the early music ensemble Les Menestriers in 1974, and worked with them for 8 years. He has studied zarb with Djamchid Chemirani since the late 1970's. Henri currently resides in France where he pursues a career as a performer, and as an arranger for film and for lyric artists including Angeli q ue Iannatos and Mísia.
The Poem of the Cid was made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington , DC , a federal agency. |
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