The Spanish Recordings: Basque Country -- Navarre

RELEASE
August 10, 2004
LABEL
Rounder
GENRES
Folk, Western European Traditions, Field Recordings, Folksongs

Album Review

The companion piece to The Spanish Recordings: Basque Country -- Biscay and Guipuzcoa, this edition of Alan Lomax's trip to the Basque Country focuses on the Navarre area, west of Biscay and Guipuzcoa. The greatest difference in the two areas is that the emphasis on rhythm seems more prominent in Navarre, but the element of improvising songs is still present. The Spanish Recordings: Basque Country -- Navarre is just as intriguing as its counterpart, throwing the listener with arcane, intricate, and beautiful melodies layered with occasional harmonies. The constant changes in time signature are more prevalent due to the aforementioned strength of rhythm, and add to the mystique and complexity of the music from this area near the Spanish-French border.
Gregory McIntosh, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. Baile de la Era (Dance of the Threshing Floor) [#]
  2. San Juan Bezperan (St. John's Eve)
  3. Bentara Noa (I'm Going to the Venta)
  4. Larre Berrian (In the Meadows)
  5. Gogoan Nerabilen (Someone Not Far Away)
  6. Haurra Egizu Lo (Sleep, Baby)
  7. Jesus Gure Jaun Maite (Jesus, Our Beloved Lord) [#]
  8. Gure Jaingoikoak (If Our Lord Had Made Me)
  9. Diana de San Fermín [#]
  10. Blind Lottery Ticket Vendor's Cry [#]
  11. Para Ser un Buen Navarro (To Be a Good Navarran) [#]
  12. Dicen Que Me Ha de Matar (They Say He Has to Kill Me) [#]
  13. De Acarrear de Montebajo (Bringing Goods Down from Montebajo)
  14. Adios Ene Maitia (Farewell, My Love) [#]
  15. Horra Bertso Berria (Here's a New Poem) [#]
  16. Belenen Sortu Zaigu (In Bethlehem Was Born) [#]
  17. Muxikoak [#]
  18. Tellarin [#]
  19. Mutil Dantza
  20. Baztango Yoyak [#]
  21. Botoilan Ez Dek Ardorik (There's No Wine Left in the Bottle) [#]
  22. Bartarratsian Buruan Gora (Last Night With My Head High) [#]
  23. Apirilan (In April)
  24. Xo, Xo, Mariaño (Hey, Hey Maria)
  25. Haurra Egizu Lo (Sleep, Baby) [#]
  26. Kaila Kantuz (The Quail Sings)
  27. Akerra Ikusi Degu (We've Seen the Butcher)
  28. Txoriñoa Nora Hua? (Little Bird, Where Are You Going?) [#]
  29. Una Planeta (A Planet) [#]
  30. Ai Hori Begi Ederra! (How Beautiful Your Eyes Are!)
  31. Eleizatikan Konbenturaino (From the Church to the Convent)
  32. Baile de Otsagi-Ochagavía
  33. Irrintzi