#CANTE JONDO OF THE THREE SISTERS PROFESSIONAL#
It cannot be that the most moving and profound songs of our mysterious soul should be maligned as mean and debauched it cannot be that they wish to fasten that thread which links us to the impenetrable Orient to the neck of the drunkard’s guitar it cannot be that they seek to stain the most diamantine of our songs with the clouded wine of the professional scoundrel. You have all heard of cante jondo, and indeed have a more or less precise idea of it…yet it is almost certain that for those of you who are not initiated into its historical and artistic transcendence it evokes a certain immorality, the atmosphere of taverns, rowdiness, the ethos of the café dance floor, a ridiculous sobbing, something typically Spanish, in fact – yet we must suppress this feeling for the sake of Andalusia, our millennial spirit and our individual hearts. It is a noble work of patriotism that we are trying to realize a work of salvation, a work of friendship and of love. Gentlemen, the musical soul of the race is in grave danger! The artistic riches of a whole people are on their way to oblivion! It seems that each day which passes another leaf falls from the wondrous tree of Andalusian lyric, old men carry to the grave the priceless treasures of past generations, and an avalanche, gross and stupid, of cheap music obscures the delightful popular culture of all Spain. The group of enthusiastic friends and intellectuals who support the idea of this festival are sounding no less than an alarm. You are gathered together tonight, in the salon of the Centro Artístico, to hear my humble, yet sincere words, and I wish them to be luminous and profound, so as to convince you of the marvellous artistic truth contained in primitive Andalusian song, that which is called deep song, cante jondo. (A lecture given in Granada, 19th February 1922) Where the original works are not in the public domain, any required permissions should also be sought from the representatives of the Lorca estate, Casanovas & Lynch Agencia Literaria. Please note that Federico García Lorca's original, Spanish works may not be in the public domain in all jurisdictions, notably the United States of America.
This work may be freely reproduced, stored and transmitted, electronically or otherwise, for any non-commercial purpose. Kline © Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved. At the height of the Tower of Comares in the Alhambra. Musical inspiration is taken mostly form other sources, while the rhythms of the language are followed without alteration.( Importancia histórica y artística del primitivo canto Andaluz llamado ‘Cante Jondo’ 1922) I have revealed the folkloristic aspects only very faintly and in very few sections. What seduced me into using the poems was their obvious musical quality and their liveliness of rhythm. If Lorca found the use cante jondo dangerous, my use of LorcaÕs poems might be considered even more hazardous. The short and intense lyrics that accompany this musical style were a revelation for Lorca, though he was quite aware of the dangers of cultural abuse involved in borrowing inspiration from the genre. Cante jondo is a form of Andalusian popular music, better known as Flamenco. Seis caprichos are found in the early collected poems of Poema del cante jondo (Poems of the Deep Song, 1922-23).
Commissioned by the Vocal Group Ars Nova with support from the Danish Arts Foundationġ) Adivinanza de la guitarra 2) Candil 3) Crotalo