1337 Payadas - one of Tango roots
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 17:13:20 -0700
From: Sergio <Cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: Payadas - one of Tango roots
Las payadas (pronounced pah-jah-das - the 'a' sounds like in catholic - ah) .
Payador (pah-jah-dor) , rural worker that attends popular gatherings improvising songs in verse that he accompanies with the guitar.
Payada (pah-jah-da), Poetic and musical competition between payadores.
Payadas are one of the several elements that gave rise to the Argentine Tango creation. I will give a very brief example so that you may have a =
clear idea of their meaning.
Pulperia (pool-peh-reeah) General Store in rural areas.
The announcements for the 'payadas' was usually placed at the pulperias, these general stores had an adjacent bar-dancing hall where some payadas =
took place.
During important national holidays such as Independence Day, gatherings take place where there are barbeques, wine, dancing, rodeos and payadas =
in rural areas .
A payador at certain time will stand up, grab his guitar and starts singing in verse to his music.
He introduces himself, gives some of his personal characteristics and then challenges other gauchos to a payada competition.
Ex. taken from "La vuelta de Martin Fierro" by Jose Hernandez; a book where the life of the gaucho is portrayed.
El hombre debe mostrarse
Cuando la ocasión le llegue;
Hace mal el que se niegue,
Dende que lo sabe hacer;
Y muchos suelen tener
Vanagloria en que los rueguen.
Martin Fierro has introduced himself and now challenges by saying in verse:
A man should come to the light (should show himself)
when the occasion arrives;
it is a bad thing to avoid the challenge,
since he is able to do it;
many for vanity sometimes
want to be begged.
A black man accepts the challenge.
Yo no soy, señores míos,
Sino un pobre guitarrero,
Pero doy gracias al Cielo
Porque puedo, en la ocasión,
Toparme con un cantor
Que esperimente a este Negro.
My Lords...I am only a poor guitar player
but I thank Heavens
because I can on this occasion,
bump into another singer
willing to measure up against this Negro.
Yo también tengo algo blanco,
Pues tengo blancos los dientes;
Sé vivir entre las gentes
Sin que me tengan en menos:
Quien anda en pagos ajenos
Debe ser manso y prudent.
I have something white as well,
since my teeth are white;
I know how to live among people
and they do not sneer me:
The one that is in foreign grounds
should be polite and prudent.
The introduction of both contenders last for a while and eventually the black man says:
Y sé como cualquier otro
El porqué retumba el trueno;
Por qué son las estaciones
Del verano y del invierno;
Sé también de donde salen
Las aguas que cain del cielo.
I know, the same as everybody
the reason thunder rumbles;
the reason behind the seasons
summer and winter;
I also know where the waters
that fall from the sky come from.
He continues for a while and then accepts the challenge.
Martin Fierro answers:
!Ah, negro!, si sos tan sabio
No tengás ningun recelo
Pero has tragao el anzuelo
Y al compás del estrumento
Has de decirme al momento
Cuál es el canto del cielo.
Why, Negro!, if you are so wise,
don't you have any fear
But you have swallowed the hook
and to your instrument rhythm
you shall tell me right now
What is Heaven's song.
The negro sings for a while and finally answers:
Los cielos lloran y cantan
Hasta en el mayor silencio:
Lloran al cair el rocío
Cantan al silbar los vientos
Lloran cuando cain las aguas.
Cantan cuando brama el trueno.
The sky tear and sing
even during the greatest of silence;
it tears when dew falls
it sings when the wind whistles
it cries when water falls (rain)
it sings with thunder rumble.
The payada continues for a while. I do not see any need to continue in detail. I am sure you get the general idea.
Martin Fierro pregunta
What is the earth's song.
What is the sea's song.
What is the night's song.
Where love is born.
The Negro answers.
Finally is the black's turn to question.
He asks the reason God created 'quantity, God created measurement, what is the meaning of the weigh
what do you understand by 'the law'.
It is a very interesting competition, those conversant with Castilian may read the whole book in the internet.
There are several versions that can be accessed with google search under "Martin Fierro".
The gauchos displaced from rural areas migrated to the city suburbs. They brought with them the guitar and the payadas.
These payadas plus other influences in the city acquired originated Tango and Milonga.
.
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 15:44:01 -0600
From: Brian Dunn <Brian@DANCEOFTHEHEART.COM>
Subject: Re: Payadas - one of Tango roots (Martin Fierro)
Sergio wrote:
>>>
"...Ex. taken from "La vuelta de Martin Fierro" by Jose Hernandez; a book
where the life of the gaucho is portrayed.
...Martin Fierro has introduced himself and now challenges by saying in
verse:
...A black man accepts the challenge...
It is a very interesting competition, those conversant with Castilian may
read the whole book in the internet.
There are several versions that can be accessed with google search under
"Martin Fierro".
<<<
While in BsAs in March and April, I found at "Distal Libros" on the Florida
pedestrian mall a paperback bilingual edition of Martin Fierro, very nicely
done, with Spanish and English verses side by side. It is translated by
Walter Owen, and published by Sainte Claire Editora.
As Sergio describes, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the cultural
background of the tango, and is a great aid to those seeking to improve
their Argentine Spanish.
Abrazos,
Brian Dunn
Dance of the Heart
Boulder, Colorado USA
1(303)938-0716
https://www.danceoftheheart.com
==============================
"...after that tango, we are no longer strangers..."
--- Robert Heinlein, "The Number of the Beast"
