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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."
Posts: 3487
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.
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"
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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."
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.
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.
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."
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."
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