Improvised Poetry & Song in the Basque Country

IMPROVISED POETRY & SONG IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY

History and development

Competitions and championships
Masters of improvisation
Becoming a bertsulari
Basque Country Improvisation Championship 2009

Partners :

Aquitaine BNSA
EJGV

History and development

At the end of the 20th century, whilst everywhere else in Europe sung and versified improvisation had disappeared or was tending to disappear (even if in some places this tradition remains well alive), the Basque Country seems to be the only part of Europe where this popular art attracts several thousand people.  

The improvisers Txirrita, Gaztelu and Olagario around 1910

The history of improvisation shows that this art has evolved over the years and has been codified as can be seen in the section on contests and championships.

We will explain to you the basic mechanisms used by bertsularis to create their improvisations whether instantaneously or in writing.

We invite you to discover extraordinary men and women from everyday life across the provinces and throughout the centuries.

Our paths of discovery

Oral improvisation in the world

The history of improvisation

Improvisation as "savoir-être"

Improvisation as "know-how"

Rules and forms 

 

 

EUSKAL KULTUR ERAKUNDEA - INSTITUT CULTUREL BASQUE

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The guides

You will be accompanied throughout this site by improvisers. During your visit: click on their photos to discover what they have to say.