Singers and Storytellers Page: 48
v, 298 p. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
SINGERS AND STORYTELLERS
newly arrived forms owed their existence to the theatrical
tonadilla, a form very closely connected with the theater of
peninsular Spain. It was undoubtedly in the Coliseo of Mexico
City, and in the provincial theaters of Veracruz, Puebla, and
Guadalajara, for example, that the first Mexican Canciones
began to appear, saturated with the rhythms of the Spanish
dance, patterned along the lines of the seguidilla, the boleras,
and the tirana, an example of which is "Cielito Lindo," which
is still sung.
With the war for independence from Spain, the members
of the folk who marched in the armies of the rebel chieftains,
and their sympathizers back home as well, used fragments of
the tonadilla as the basis for revolutionary songs. We still have
extant the "Song to Morelos," with its picturesque refrain:Rema, nanita, rema
y rema y vamos remando.
Por un cabo doy dos reales,
por un sargento un dobl6n,
por mi General Morelos
la vida y el coraz6n.Row, Nanny, row,
Row and let us keep rowing.
I'll give two bits for a corporal,
For a sergeant a doubloon,
For my General Morelos
I give my life and my heart.It is, then, the patriotic song which appears at this time. A song
about the execution of Morelos is still sung, with the rhythm
of a march and in verses which stress the antepenult:'Old, hijos de M6xico,
la historia triste y misera,
de aquel Generalisimo,
MArtir de Ecatepec.Hear, oh sons of Mexico,
The sad and mournful history
Of that Generalissimo,
Martyr of Ecatepec.True Canciones were detached from the theatrical spec-
tacles which accompanied the tonadilla and lived on the lips
of the people, but still betrayed quite clearly their Spanish
origin in the octosyllabic line. An example is "La Morenita":STe acuerdas cuando pusiste
tus manos sobre las miasRemember the day you placed
Your two hands within my own,48
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current book.
Singers and Storytellers (Book)
Collection of popular folklore of Texas, including personal anecdotes about storytellers and singers, as well as folk songs, myths, and ghost stories. The index begins on page 295.
Relationship to this item: (Has Format)
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Boatright, Mody C. Singers and Storytellers, book, 1961; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67655/m1/54/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Press.