The exhibition commemorates the 5th Centenary of the stay of Charles V and Isabella of Portugal in Granada, highlighting the Andalusi and Morisco musical legacy
The Granada International Festival of Music and Dance, the Library of Andalusia–Musical Documentation Center of Andalusia and El legado andalusí Andalusian Public Foundation present the exhibition Morisco Zambras for Emperor Charles V. Musical Instruments from al-Andalus, which opens to the public at Corral del Carbón on June 25, 2026.
The exhibition forms part of the commemorative programme marking the 5th centenary of the stay in Granada of Emperor Charles V and Empress Isabella of Portugal, who arrived in the city in June 1526. Through this initiative, the organizing institutions pay tribute to the Morisco zambras performed for the imperial court during their residence in Granada, as well as to the musical instruments that accompanied these celebrations, regarded as direct heirs to the rich musical heritage of al-Andalus.
Coordinated by El legado andalusí Foundation and curated by the musicologist and medieval music specialist Reynaldo Fernández Manzano, the exhibition offers a contemporary visual journey through the Andalusi soundscape and its enduring influence across the centuries.
The term “zambra”, strongly associated with the musical traditions that emerged in the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, has been documented since the 13th century. These musical expressions enjoyed considerable social and cultural prominence, to the extent that Friar Hernando de Talavera, the first archbishop of the Kingdom of Granada, authorized the participation of zambrero groups in major public celebrations, including the Corpus Christi procession.
A key highlight of the exhibition is the outstanding collection of musical instruments from al-Andalus sourced from the Musical Documentation Center of Andalusia, the exhibition materials of El legado andalusí Foundation and the curator’s private collection. Among the items on display are unique pieces reconstructed from iconographic representations spanning the 10th to the 13th centuries, crafted by prestigious master luthiers specialized in medieval music, such as Carlos Paniagua.
Furthermore, the exhibition displays a selection of documents of exceptional historical value. Particularly noteworthy are the Royal Decree (Real Cédula) issued by Isabella of Portugal in 1530 to the Archbishop of Granada in defense of the Morisco zambras—presented through an exceptional loan from the Cathedral of Granada—and the Cancionero de al-Haik (Al-Haik Songbook), an eighteenth-century manuscript regarded as a fundamental source for the study of Andalusi nubas, widely considered the most refined and emblematic musical expression of the heritage of al-Andalus.
The exhibition also benefits from the participation of the Artografía research project, sponsored by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, featuring illustrations by Asunción Jódar, Ricardo Marín and Silvia Segarra. Collaboration has also been provided by the Granadan master craftsman Jiménez Mariscal, responsible for replicating various traditional Andalusi whistles preserved in Andalusian museums.
With this exhibition, the organizing institutions invite the public to explore a remarkably rich musical heritage that forms an integral part of our cultural memory and continues to project its influence today.
Exhibition: Morisco Zambras for Emperor Charles V. Musical Instruments from al-Andalus
Venue: Corral del Carbón, Granada
Dates: From June 25 to October 2026
