Cancionero

The Cancionero is a collection of works by Juan del Encina, a Spanish playwright, poet, priest, and composer active in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Published in 1496, it includes eight of his plays, primarily short pastoral plays called églogas, and most of his poetry.1

Encina's early églogas feature simple dialogues between shepherds, while later ones become more complex, incorporating mythological themes and influenced by Italian antecedents. He was also a prolific songwriter, composing popular ballads and villancicos (rustic songs), as well as more polished courtly poems. His songs often drew on folk-like tunes and rhythms, exhibiting a range from earthy to intensely expressive qualities. The Cancionero represents a significant collection of Spanish Renaissance music and literature.1234