Background

In 1958 I sailed on the passenger freighter Excambion from New York to Beirut. We passed Gibraltar and sailed into the Alboran Sea in the midst of a gale. Bordered on the north by Spain and the south by Morocco we docked at various ports and visited notable places.
Spain and Morocco have struggled over the centuries invading and being invaded. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Berbers, Moors and conquistadors, sailing mighty Galleons, have all placed their imprint on this region and this music.

Imagine

You have crossed the Atlantic spotting Portugal on your left. You pass through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Port of Tangier. The city has passed through many hands and is rich in history having been ruled by many ancient cultures. It is now noted as a center for international spies.
You travel overland to Marrakech which means Land of God. You visit the ancient fortified city of Medina and wander the Berber Souks.
Crossing the Alboran Sea you seem to see a Spanish Galleon in the mist. You visit the eleventh century ruins of Montserrat and its restored monastery outside Barcelona and go from there to other sites in Spain and Portugal where you view the Pilar de Christo. You visit a music room like one Clara Wieck Schumann once played in for Johannes Brahms and hear a harp and piano recital.
Crossing the Alboran Sea you seem to see a Spanish Galleon in the mist. You visit the eleventh century ruins of Montserrat and its restored monastery outside Barcelona and go from there to other sites in Spain and Portugal where you view the Pilar de Christo. You visit a music room like one Clara Wieck Schumann once played in for Johannes Brahms and hear a harp and piano recital.
Returning to your ship you gaze at the heavens as the wind rises and thunder rumbles above. You seem to hear castanets in the wind as you set sail for home. Passing Cape Spartel, with great emotion you say good by to the Alboran Sea. In one last fleeting moment a solitary dove flies overhead. You remember in the beginning . . . the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.. Genesis 1