2023-05-27 11:47:35
Saturday, May 27, 2023, 11:47
The creation of the melody of modern Basque is the album ‘Bat-Hiru’, presented by Mikel Laboa in 1974 for Basque leader Andres Urrutia. He points out that it was “of great importance” in his experiences, as it changed the way he sees Basque, among other things. “If you’re Basque, try it, just put it on and listen. The sound of Basque, modern musicality, will come naturally to you,” he says passionately. He advises you to leave the exercise of analyzing the deep lyrics for the second listen, as it is a “slow-listening record”.
And Urrutia places the artist behind the album at the level of “almost revolutionary”. “I already knew the musicians of the time and for me Benito Lertxundi, Xabier Lete, etc. they were very important, but I would say that Mikel Laboa was the last link with Ez Do Hamahiru”, he praises. He believes that with the work published in 1974 he broke all the boundaries, “creating another world, imaginary, metaphor and image”. For the Euskaltzainburu, ‘Bat-Hiru’ must be placed in that socio-political context and for the members of his generation – he was 20 years old at the time – to understand the impact he created. “It was different, until then our generation associated Basque with church songs, choirs or much more formal songs. And on this album there was a much fresher way of singing, updated and with a lot to say.”
He worked as a bridge for Laboa Urrutia, on the one hand he picked up the traditional songs of Lekeitio – he traveled there during the war – he modernized the historical and literary tradition with songs such as ‘Bereterretxen kanthoria’, he also received versolaritza in the song ‘Pasaiko herritik’ and later created new songs that have spread enormously , for example ‘Txoriak xori’ combined in one album. “Together with many things, they were great incentives from the point of view of Basqueness”. Thus, both for him and for the members of his generation, he believes that Laboa opened “a door that had been closed until then”, specifically to realize that “the Basque language was useful for addressing past, present and future issues through music”. With the album and not to mention the shows offered from square to square, with the “experiments made in the form of traveling comedy”, Baga Biga Higa, Ikimilikilikli or Gernika, which are still known to everyone. “In terms of style, it brought great innovation, almost revolutionary.”
Touching music
In retrospect, the impact these had on Urrutia is evident. He had the chance to see it more than once, such as “the one offered in Bilbao at the beginning or the one in Mungia afterwards” and he found both of them “moving and exemplary”, because “they had an impact on one’s Basque-ness”. He listens to ‘Bat-Hiru’ from time to time and each hearing is an exercise in “constantly renewing the memories of a time”, “which I don’t get with other groups”. “This album gives you an anchor with the Basque world, with music. It makes you feel like a part of this land society”, he explains. He admires those groups, such as Ruper Ordorika or Zea Mays, but he says that they “satisfy in a different way”. That’s right, he made it clear that they have “very fascinating things”.
Rock | Dire Straits
‘Brothers in Arms’ (Vertigo) 1985
Darling. “Apart from Basque music, I really like it. He embraces pop, rock, ballad… with different rhythms. Mark Knopfler is a great guitarist.”
Opera | Mozart
‘The Magic Flute’ 1791
The symbolism. “It reflects a certain time, but it has not lost its relevance. It is a beautiful work, as well as the message from the point of view of wisdom.’
Opera | Beethoven
‘Fidelio’ 1805
the cry. “Proclaiming the choir in favor of freedom and human rights is, unfortunately, not a useless job.”
During the hearings, he prefers to enjoy the album in its entirety and suggests to those who do not know it yet. In fact, ‘Bat-Hiru’ is very different from the music on the radio platforms for Urruti. “If you want to enjoy the music, the message and the melody of the album and get absorbed, listen to it calmly.”
#Andres #Urrutia #revolutionary #great #job