Dramas: Lesson 13 - The Golden Age of Spain

By Shelley Jacobson, London, UK

• Cloths richly embroidered and appliqued with gold,

• a decorative tray set with painted glasses and fruit of the vine,

• candles of all shapes and sizes glowing from an array of different holders, filigree, glass, ceramic,

• an ornately decorated mat placed in front of each student, cumbersome Melton folders momentarily swept away,

• baskets of icy fragrant clementines, brass bowls of  dried figs, pistachios and cashews being passed around, the strains of Spanish music lilting in the background,

• teacher resplendent in woven cape.

Thus the magnificent ambience and atmosphere of convivencia during 10th-12th century Spain was created on a Monday morning at 10 am in Golders Green, north London.

The exquisite poetry of Shemuel Hanagid and Yehudah Halevy infused the atmosphere, so vividly and magnificently created by our extraordinary teacher Angela Gluck Wood.

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