Related links:
Basque
Choirs | Singers
Basque song lyrics
website
Bertsolaritza-Improvisation
Top 5 Basque songs
Basque music videos
There is a saying that three Basques make a
choir. Basques are noted music fans and singers, at least from what we
know from recent history. Earlier it appears that song remained outside
the mainstream; the attachment became stronger when Basques were
challenged by outsiders. This is what prompted the works of the two
priest "song-catchers:" Azkue and Donostia. Azkue was more fortunate
and his work was disseminated further. The misfortune is that after
them no real ethno-musical movement emerged; consequently our musical
tradition remained in the realm of fantasy and legend moreso than
reality until quite recently.
Is there Basque music? Besides the
defining characteristic of the lyrics in the Basque language, there was
a massive debate over this at the beginning of the 20th
century. Two representative perspectives included Francisco Gaskue and
Azkue. Gaskue noted that many tunes were not only sung in the Basque
Country [e.g., Uso Zuria, Agur Jaunak] and he hypothesized that Basque
music was a hybrid of borrowed material. Azkue meanwhile took the
opposite tack. While acknowledging borrowing, Azkue emphasized the
primacy of indigenous works. The debate endures. Basque music remains
related to, yet distinct from, other song forms.
Basque-American (Bertsolari) Poets

Jesus Goni, Jesus Arriada, Johnny Curutchet & Martin Goicoechea,
National Endowment For The Arts Announces the 2003 Recipients of the
Nation's
Highest Honor in the Folk and Traditional Arts

Click
here to go to the Basque Government's webpage to promote Basque
music.
Click
on www.Musikazblai.com for the
lyrics to 1,400 Basque songs.
Here is some Basque song links to
download and sample:
Xalbador-en bertsoak Xabier
Amurizak kantatuak:
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Amuriza-Xalbador-Aezkoako_apeza.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Amuriza-Xalbador-Hizkuntza_bizi_dedin.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Amuriza-Xalbador-Jaiotzako_negarra.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Amuriza-Xalbador-Ni_naiz.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Amuriza-Xalbador-Sorginarenak.mp3
Euritan Blai:
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Euritan_Blai-Elurraren_memoria.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Euritan_Blai-Errege_jauna_ehortzia.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Euritan_Blai-Ozpel-Jauzi_ta_putin.mp3
Ganbara:
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Ganbara-California_1930an.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Ganbara-Ilunberri_Lumbier_habanera.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Ganbara-Jaun_Zuria_Eringo_Printzea.mp3
Gontzal Mendibil (Iparragirre-ren
kantuak)
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gontzal_Mendibil-Amorez_eria.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gontzal_Mendibil-Ez_bedi_galdu_euskera.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gontzal_Mendibil-Nere_izarra.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gontzal_Mendibil-Urretxuko_semeei.mp3
Olatz Zugasti:
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Olatz_Zugasti-Goizeko_bortzetan.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Olatz_Zugasti-Karrikaren_barna.mp3
Tapia
eta Leturia
Click here to go
to their website for song samples.
Gabon kantak: Christmas songs:
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/01-Alaken.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/02-Kanta-alleluia.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/03-Mendi-aldetik-datoz.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/04-Loal-loa.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/05-Kanpaiak-jaietan.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/06-Din-dan-don.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/07-Olentzero.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/08-Kunkun-lolo.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/09-Ijitoen-astoa.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/10-Gabon-gaua.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/11-Trankatran-arre-arre.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/12-Gabonak-gabon.mp3
http://www.komunika.net/pub/Gabon-Gauean/13-Ator-mutil.mp3
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