CANTIGA began at the Texas Renaissance Festival in Plantersville Texas as the result of a musical collaboration which began in the 1970's. Fiddler Malcolm Smith and harpist Martha Gay joined forces to focus on the performance of ancient Europeam repertoire. The group selected the name CANTIGA, meaning "song" in Spanish in the tradition of Alfonso X, also known as "El Sabio". Alfonso X is remembered for bringing musicians from all over the world to share in an exchange of music.