Bertsolaritza

Bertsolaritza is the art of singing extemporary composed songs in Basque according to various melodies and rhyming patterns. Bertsos can be composed at a variety of occasions but generally either by a solo bertsolari, in company between more than one bertsolari amongst friends or at a competition. Such a sung piece of composition is called a "bertso", the person who sings it is called a "bertsolari" and the art of composing bertsos is called "bertsolaritza" in
Basque. Traditionally these were sung by men but there is an increasing number of young female bertsolaris today.

Usually the Basque terms are used in Spanish and French but the Spanish terms "versolarismo" and "bertsolarismo" and the French terms "bertsularisme" (from Zuberoan "bertsularitza") and "versification" are also used.

The Bertso

A bertso consists of two main components: the spontaneous verse and the melody to which it is sung. The famous modern-day bertsolari Xabier Amuriza defined it in a bertso as:

History

It is unclear how old this tradition is but the modern recorded history of bertsolaritza dates back to the beginning of the 19th century. In this period two kinds of bertsolari were distinguished, the "eskolatuak", the "studied" bertsolaris who were aware of written Basque literature and the "eskolatu gabeak" the "unstudied" bertsolariak who were not as literate. Many of the most famous bertsolaris of this period came from the central province of Gipuzkoa. One of the earliest and most famous of these was a man called "Fernando Bengoetxea Altuna". He was commonly known as "Pernando Amezketarra", "Pernando from Amezketa (a village in Gipuzkoa)" and both a much loved bertsolari and trickster.

Coinciding with a turbulent period in Basque history (the Carlist Wars, World War I and World War II, the Spanish Civil War, Spain under Franco) bertsos were a popular way of reflecting on current issues. Although bertsos which were considered to be worthy of passing on had been passed on orally before, the "bertso-paperak", "bertso papers", became popular in this period and are the main source of information on these early bertsos today.

The first major championship was held in 1935 but after the second championship in 1936, the Spanish Civil War put a halt to the championships until 1960.

Today the championships are conducted both at the provincial level and at the national level. Since having started again they have drawn increasingly large crowds and the popularity of certain bertsolaris coupled with a renewed effort to foster traditional Basque culture have rejuvenated this tradition in recent years. Many young people today have the opportunity to study bertsolaritza as a school subject or attend one of the many bertso schools for adults which today can be found in all 7 provinces of the Basque Country.

Basque Television routinely broadcasts the championships and has programmes about "bertsolaritza" such as "Hitzetik Hortzera" which has been running since 1988.

Famous Bertsolaris

Most historic bertsolaris were generally known by their nickname, not their given name (given in brackets).

Historic Bertsolaris

* "Basarri" (Inazio Eizmendi, 1913-1999) Gipuzkoa
* "Bilintx" (Indalezio Bizkarrondo, 1831-1876) Gipuzkoa
* "Bordel" (Joan Etxamendi Larralde, 1792-1879) Navarre
* "Etxahun" (Pierre Topet, 1786-1862) Zuberoa
* "Etxahun-Iruri" (Pierre Bordazarra, 1908-79) Zuberoa
* "Etxamendi" (Jean Etxamendi 1873-1962) Lower Navarre
* "Lazkao Txiki" (Joxe Migel Iztueta Kortajarena, 1926-1993) Gipuzkoa
* "Mattin" (Mattin Treku Inhargue, 1916-1981) Lapurdi
* "Otaño" (Pello Mari Otaño Barriola, 1857-1910) Gipuzkoa
* "Pello Errota" (Pedro Jose Elizegi, 1840-1919) Gipuzkoa
* "Perndando Amezketarra" (Fernando Bengoetxea Altuna, 1764-1823) Gipuzkoa
* "Piarres Ibarrart" (1838-1919) Lapurdi
* "Txirrita" (Jose Manuel Lujanbio Erretegi, 1860-1936) Gipuzkoa
* "Urretxindorra" (Kepa Embeita Renteria, 1878-1942) Biscay
* "Uztapide" (Manuel Olaizola Urbieta, 1909-1983) Gipuzkoa
* "Xalbador" (Ferdinand Aire Etxart, 1920-1976) Lower Navarre
* "Xanpun" (Manuel Sein, 1928-2002) Lapurdi
* "Xenpelar" (Frantzisko Petrirena Errekondo, 1835-1869) Gipuzkoa
* "Zepai" (Akilino Izagirre Amenabar, 1906-1971) Gipuzkoa

Modern Bertsolaris

* "Aitor Usandizaga Izagirre" (1976) Lower Navarre
* "Amets Arzallus Antia" (1983) Lapurdi
* "Andoni Egaña Makazaga" (1961) Gipuzkoa
* "Igor Elortza Aranoa" (1975) Biscay
* "Jon Embeitia Ealo" (1950) Biscay
* "Maialen Lujanbio Zugasti" (1976) Gipuzkoa
* "Mañukorta" (Gregorio Larrañaga Mandiola, 1943) Biscay
* "Oihane Perea Perez De Mendiola" (1977) Álava
* "Unai Iturriaga Zugaza-artaza" (1974) Biscay
* "Sustrai Colina Akordarrementeria" (1983) Lapurdi
* "Xabier Amuriza Sarrionandia" (1941) Biscay
* "Xabier Silveira Etxeberria" (1976) Navarre

imilar traditions

Other cultures have traditions of sung extemporary verse not unlike bertsolaritza. Amongst them are the Bavarian "Gstanzerl" and the Sardinian "cantadòres".

Modernly bertsolaris have established contact with the Spanish-language traditions of Argentinian payadores and Cuban décimas.The singer Fermin Muguruza has experimented with "bertso-hop", drawing from bertso and rap music.

References

* Amuriza, Xabier "Zu ere bertsolari", Elkar 1982

External links

* [http://www.bertso-eskolak.com "Bertso Eskolak" (Bertso Schools)]
* [http://www.bertsozale.com "Bertsozale Elkartea" (Society of Bertso Afficionados)]
* [http://journal.oraltradition.org/issues/22ii Articles of the Oral Tradition Journal]
* Spanish-language Auñamendi Encyclopedia:
** [http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/13609 Bertsolarismo]
** [http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/22551 Bertsolarismo (siglo XX)]
** [http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/21330 Bertsolarismo (siglo XXI)]