Teresa Berganza sings “Anda Jaleo” by Federico García Lorca [Guitar: Narciso Yepes]

Anda Jaleo is probably the best remembered and the most frequently performed song of the many Spanish canciones (songs) compiled, arranged, recorded, and popularized by Federico García Lorca and La Argentinita.

Here is the Teresa Berganza & Narciso Yepes version of the song:

Spanish mezzo-soprano Teresa Berganza sings the song No.1 “Anda, jaleo” from Trece canciones espanolas antiguas by Federico Garcia Lorca. Guitar: Narciso Yepes. Recorded: 12/1976, Munich, Alter Hercules-Saal

Recorded in 1931 for the record label His Master’s Voice the song was performed by Lorca in many of his poetic lecture demonstrations and in his play, La Zapatera Prodigiosa. La Argentinita transformed Anda Jaleo into a popular dance in the late 1930s and early ’40s, and her dance company toured the piece throughout North and South America. In Spain during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Anda Jaleo was a Republican Army resistance song with politically explosive lyrics. In postFranco Spain, Anda Jaleo reemerged as a vibrant flamenco song, the bulerías.

Teresa Berganza

Teresa Berganza, born on 16 March 1935, is a Spanish mezzo-soprano. She is most closely associated with the roles of Rossini, Mozart, and Bizet. She is admired for her technical virtuosity, musical intelligence, and beguiling stage presence.

She has also appeared in nine motion pictures, including Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) in 1972, as Zerlina in Joseph Losey’s Don Giovanni in 1979, and both Werther and Carmen in 1980.

Narciso Yepes

Narciso Yepes (14 November 1927 – 3 May 1997) was a Spanish guitarist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

After 1964, Yepes used the ten-string guitar exclusively, touring all six inhabited continents, performing in recitals as well as with the world’s leading orchestras, giving an average of 130 performances each year. He recorded the Concierto de Aranjuez for the first time with the ten-string guitar in 1969 with Odón Alonso conducting the Orquesta Sinfonica R.T.V. Española.

Anda Jaleo - Teresa Berganza with Narciso Yepes
Teresa Berganza with Narciso Yepes

La Argentinita

La Argentinita is the stage name of Encarnación López Júlvez (Buenos Aires, March 3, 1898 – New York, September 24, 1945), a Spanish dancer and singer. Among her performances was as the Butterfly in the premiere of Federico García Lorca’s El maleficio de la mariposa.

She partnered with Frederico Rey who, as Freddy Wittop, later enjoyed a successful and award-winning career as a theatrical costume designer. The Spanish choreographer and ballerina Pilar López Júlvez was her sister. She chose the name La Argentinita in deference to the dancer La Argentina. And Lorca & La Argentinita version of the song:

Federico García Lorca & La Argentinita: Anda Jaleo
Federico García Lorca with La Argentinita
Federico García Lorca with La Argentinita
Federico García Lorca with La Argentinita - Canciones Polpulares Españolas
Federico García Lorca with La Argentinita – Canciones Polpulares Españolas

Spanish lyrics

Anda Jaleo

Yo me subí a un pino verde
por ver si la divisaba,
y sólo divisé el polvo
del coche que la llevaba.

Anda jaleo, jaleo;
ya se acabó el alboroto
y ahora empieza el tiroteo.

En la calle de los muros
mataron a una paloma.
Yo cortaré con mis manos
las flores de su corona.

Anda jaleo, jaleo;
ya se acabó el alboroto
y ahora empieza el tiroteo.

No salgas, paloma, al campo,
mira que soy cazador,
y si te tiro y te mato
para mi será el dolor,
para mi será el quebranto.

Anda jaleo, jaleo;
ya se acabó el alboroto
y ahora empieza el tiroteo.

English lyrics

Come on uprise

I climbed a green pine
to find out if I could distinguish her,
and saw only dust
from the car that brought her.

Come on, uprise, uprise:
protesting is over now
and we’re heading towards conflict

Do not come out, dove, in the field
watch out ’cause I’m a hunter,
and if I’ll shoot you and I’ll kill you
it’ll be a grief to me,
it’ll be a loss to me.

Come on, uprise, uprise:
protesting is over now
and we’re heading towards conflict

On the street of the Ramparts
they’ve killed a dove.
I’m cutting with my hands
the flowers for its wreath

Come on, uprise, uprise:
protesting is over now
and we’re heading towards conflict

Sources

M. Özgür Nevres

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