Singers and Storytellers Page: 53
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:
SOME FORMS OF THE MEXICAN CANCION
The Canci6n fulfilled its destiny and gave way to other
musical forms. So it is that by 1914, in spite of the Revolution,
the aristocracy of the Porfirio Diaz era could be scandalized
at the harmonization of popular Canciones by Manuel M.
Ponce, calling them "songs of the straw hat, the huarache
and the pulque shop." Some would probably say that the
Canci6n continued its existence in the songs of the Revolu-
tion; I say that it did not. The revolutionary soldier merely
made use of a genre that had already disappeared. It is true
that in 1918 there was a movement to revive the Canci6n by
means of composers' contests, but this was an attempt to
inject life into a corpse. Nevertheless, the Mexican Canci6n,
romantic and sentimental, has a glorious past. Mexicans can
be proud of Canciones like "La Golondrina," "La Pajarera,"
"Marchita El Alma," "Paloma Blanca," and many others too
numerous to mention.
The classification of the lyrical songs of a people is an
arduous and complicated task. Don Manuel M. Ponce classi-
fied the Canci6n according to tempo: slow, moderate, and
quick. This seems to us rather childish. Some suggested meth-
ods of classification are the following:
According to chronological order: beginning with those
of Spanish origin, down to the present.
According to musical structure: beginning with the simple
type, consisting of one musical period; the ranchera, with two
periods and containing irregularities; the semi-erudite, with
three or more musical periods.
According to literary form: the length of the line; the
influence, classic or romantic, of the verse.
According to the subject treated: love, nostalgia, hatred,
solitude, vengeance, constancy.
According to the character of the text: patriotic, historical,
satirical, political.
According to geography: mountain, island, coastal, plains,
sea; north or south.58
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/m1/59/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Press.