La Guitarra of Federico Garcia Lorca

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a_arnold

Posts: 558
Joined: Jul. 30 2006

La Guitarra of Federico Garcia Lorca

Does anybody know if this poem has been used as cante? Lorca wrote much of his poetry in compas, and it sounds like it should be singable.

Empieza el llanto
de la guitarra.
Se rompen las copas
de la madrugada.
Empieza el llanto
de la guitarra.
Es inútil
callarla.
Es imposible
callarla.
Llora monótona
como llora el agua,
como llora el viento
sobre la nevada.
Es imposible
callarla.
Llora por cosas
lejanas.
Arena del Sur caliente
que pide camelias blancas.
Llora flecha sin blanco,
la tarde sin mañana,
y el primer pájaro muerto
sobre la rama.
¡Oh guitarra!
Corazón malherido
por cinco espadas.

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"Flamenco is so emotionally direct that a trained classical musician would require many years of highly disciplined formal study to fail to understand it."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2011 16:58:54

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3430
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: La Guitarra of Federico Garcia Lorca (in reply to a_arnold)

I don't know about this particular poem, but Garcia Lorca wrote some pieces for Pastora Pavon "La Niña de los Peines" which she recorded under the title "Lorqueñas". The letras are in Cristina Cruces Roldan's biography "La Niña de los Peines, el mundo flamenco de Pastora Pavon".

Unfortunately the book has no index--maybe I'll look up the letras when I have a little more time.

[edit] "Lorqueñas" is not among the comprehensive list near the end of the book of palos that Pastora recorded. It seems unlikely that the letras are printed in the book, although Pastora is quoted on more than one occasion on her friendship with Garcia Lorca, and the pieces he wrote for her.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2011 17:25:44

a_arnold

Posts: 558
Joined: Jul. 30 2006

RE: La Guitarra of Federico Garcia Lorca (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

quote:

maybe I'll look up the letras when I have a little more time.

The title is simply
"La Guitarra"

_____________________________

"Flamenco is so emotionally direct that a trained classical musician would require many years of highly disciplined formal study to fail to understand it."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2011 20:34:15

Estevan

Posts: 1936
Joined: Dec. 20 2006
From: Torontolucía

RE: La Guitarra of Federico Garcia Lorca (in reply to a_arnold)

You can hear a fragment of it here (from 0:44). Very intense.

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Me da igual. La música es música.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2011 21:19:15

Pimientito

Posts: 2481
Joined: Jul. 30 2007
From: Marbella

RE: La Guitarra of Federico Garcia Lorca (in reply to a_arnold)

Its one of lorcas better known poems. I have never heard it in cante apart from fragments though

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2011 21:36:04

orsonw

Posts: 1934
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: La Guitarra of Federico Garcia Lorca (in reply to Pimientito)

The Guitar

The weeping of the guitar
begins.
The goblets of dawn
are smashed.
The weeping of the guitar
begins.
Useless
to silence it.
Impossible
to silence it.
It weeps monotonously
as water weeps
as the wind weeps
over snowfields.
Impossible
to silence it.
It weeps for distant
things.
Hot southern sands
yearning for white camellias.
Weeps arrow without target
evening without morning
and the first dead bird
on the branch.
Oh, guitar!
Heart mortally wounded
by five swords.

Federico García Lorca

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2011 12:07:50

Kirk

Posts: 8
Joined: Jan. 25 2009

RE: La Guitarra of Federico Garcia Lorca (in reply to a_arnold)

It has a pretty nice allusion to spanish/tarot cards: with copas at the beginning and espadas at the end. I haven't heard it used in cante. Lorca wrote some great musical pieces, though. Cafe de Chinitas is a good example.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2011 16:25:28

a_arnold

Posts: 558
Joined: Jul. 30 2006

RE: La Guitarra of Federico Garcia Lorca (in reply to Kirk)

quote:

Cafe de Chinitas is a good example.

He actually composed the music to that one, didn't he? It's a peteneras. I learned it once and have tabs/notation for it, but our lead dancer won't dance it. Too superstitious.

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"Flamenco is so emotionally direct that a trained classical musician would require many years of highly disciplined formal study to fail to understand it."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2011 22:57:49

Kirk

Posts: 8
Joined: Jan. 25 2009

RE: La Guitarra of Federico Garcia Lorca (in reply to a_arnold)

Well, you don't want any dancers dropping dead, do you?

He wrote several musical compositions. I believe Zorongo is another example.

Great poem in any case, thanks for reminding me about it. Las seis cuerdas is another nice one he wrote about the guitar.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2011 15:03:33

a_arnold

Posts: 558
Joined: Jul. 30 2006

RE: La Guitarra of Federico Garcia Lorca (in reply to Kirk)

quote:

I believe Zorongo is another example.

Really?!? I had no idea. The one that Paco Pena plays? I believe Sabicas recorded that under the title "Guadalquivir" (not totally sure about that). I always thought Sabicas composed it.

Thanks for the tip on that. I'll have to see what else I can find on it.

_____________________________

"Flamenco is so emotionally direct that a trained classical musician would require many years of highly disciplined formal study to fail to understand it."

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2011 17:29:44