Bertsolaritza

Bertsolaritza or bertsolarism 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 are performed generally by one or various bertsolaris onstage in an event arranged for the purpose or as a sideshow, in homage ceremonies, in benefit lunches and suppers, with 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.

There are scores of possible tunes which can be used for singing a bertso, stemming from traditional songs that once caught on and embedded themselves in folk culture. They are all, however, unaccompanied.

Any topic can occur in a bertso, anything from world politics to a humorous discussion about sex. Nowadays, the topic most used is politics. Bertsolaris criticize the state they are living on today's society. 

A bertsolari might for example be asked to pretend to be a 17-year-old girl who has come home at 3 am to realise she has lost her house keys and must ring the doorbell. Bertsolaris may be required to compose an argument between two family members or to look at a topic from a philosophical point of view. The audience and the judges value humor as much as poetic value.

Oihane Perea Perez de Mendiola

Oihane Perea Perez de Mendiola (1977) was last year's bertsolaris champion and can proudly wear the txapeldun. 

A bertsolari is a singer of bertso, a musical verse in Basque tradition. The bertolaris are often found in pairs, in which a topic is sung extemporaneously in verses alternatively, but they can stage solo or group verse sessions too. Oihane is a teacher and facilitator at the Araba Bertsolaris Association. 

At the age of 12 she began in the Gasteiz bertsolaris school. She is 
currently Araba champion and is three-times provincial champion. 

The Emile Series #6: Émile Larre Otxobi

Émile Larre Otxobi, aka Sokorri (1926 – 2015) was a priest, writer, improviser and French-Basque academic.

He was an active promoter of Basque traditions, particularly of bertsolaritza and Basque pelota.

Émile Larre directed the newspaper Herria since 1969, and collaborates with magazines such as Gazte and Radio Adour.

In 1975, he became a full member of Euskaltzaindia (the Academy of the Basque language).

He was a judge at the general championships of bertsolaris in 1962, 1965 and 1982.

Embroidered Txapelduns for Champions

These pictures come from the Facebook site of Tarratadie, embroiderers of txapelduns. 

The Basque word Txapela is generally translated as beret, but really means 'hat'. A beret is a hat, but a hat not necessarily a beret… 

The word has become synonymous though with Basque identification and culture; restaurants, bars, etc called Txapela are many. 

In the Basque Country it is the custom to award a beret to the winner of a competition, especially a bertsolari competition (a bertsolari is a singer of bertso, a musical verse generally sung by two alternating bertsolaris), but also for all other sports, be it cycling, basketball and even Basque cooking.

 The Basque word for champion is txapeldun – literally, 'one who has the hat (beret)', the same word used for the large diameter berets made by Boinas Elosegui and for sale here.

Txapela and Txapeldun

The Basque word Txapela is generally translated as beret, but really means 'hat'. A beret is a hat, but a hat not necessarily a beret… The word has become synonymous though with Basque identification and culture; restaurants, bars, etc called Txapela are many. In the Basque Country it is the custom to award a beret to the winner of a competition, especially a bertsolari competition (a bertsolari is a singer of bertso, a musical verse generally sung by two alternating bertsolaris). The Basque word for champion is txapeldun – literally, 'one who has the hat (beret)'.

My favourite beret is an Euskaldun Txapela by Elósegui.