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

Masters of improvisation

Most bertsularis between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 20th century were ordinary people and were unable to either read or write.

Bertsularis à Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port en 1947 - Bertsulariak Donibane-Garazin 1947an

However, some of their verses seduced spectators filled with wonder who, by remembering them, helped them to be passed on from one generation to the next.

Certain verses have today even become the classics of Basque song, sung on stage, at meals, or even at dances like “Behin batean Loiolan” by Bilintx! In this sense, sung and versified improvisation is often considered to be the ancestor of song in the Basque Country.

Here you can find out more about some of the great names of versified improvisation  in the Northern Basque Country from the 16th century to the present day in addition to current young talented improvisers.

You can also consult a selection of bertsus composed by these improvisers.


 

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.