During the medieval era, Spain played a central role in political, military, religious and cultural progress in Western Europe and the immediate region, due in large part to the fortuitous combination of climate, proximity to the ocean and natural beauty of its coastal regions — making it an ideal location for trade. As Spain became a center of maritime ports of call, people of many cultures and faiths crossed paths — and their art, traditions, and music had a strong influence on one another.

In parallel with their ambitious goal of recording the entire Cantigas de Santa Maria, Pneuma is also releasing the Música Andaluza series, focusing on the al-Andaluz musical tradition with roots in Islamic and folk music of Spain, North Africa and the Middle East. Ensemble Ibn Báya, named after the 12th century Arab-Spanish philosopher who espoused the unification of the soul with the divine, is a group of Spanish and Moroccan musicians performing on traditional and period instruments and focusing on medieval Arabo-Andalusian music.

Musicians:
Omar Metioui, voice, oud, laud'arbi, viola& tar
Ahmed al-Gazi, rebab & viola
Mohamed el-Arabi Serghini, solo voice & darbuga
Abdesselam Amrani Boukhobza, voice & tar
Gloria Lergo, solo voice
Luis Delgado, andalusian lute, citolas, darbuga and percussion
Eduardo Paniagua, medieval flutes