Towards a Typology of the Judeo-Spanish Folksong: Gerineldo and the Romance Model

The work presented here marks a preliminary phase in a long-term project which seeks to define the Judeo-Spanish folksong as represented in its geographical distribution, by reference to a typology based on parameters which reflect the multidimensional character of the folksong. A definition will be obtained, therefore, when the different types of folksong in the Judeo-Spanish repertoire are identified. 

Because the Judeo-Spanish folksong is a complex, dynamic phenomenon comprising, at the very least, two components, text and music, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary in order to arrive at a comprehensive definition. Our analysis, therefore, is conducted in accordance with parameters which take into account the multidimensional character of the Judeo-Spanish folksong: literary, musical, linguistic and performance.