The Association of the friends of Bertsolaritza Territories Gipuzkoa Introduction

Introduction

Gipuzkoa, the historic Basque territory which is also known as the cradle of bertsolarismo, is still advancing – in terms of numbers of bertsolaris, in the enthusiasm of followers or aficionados and in terms of the numbers of performances. Of the 1,420 performances registered throughout the Basque Country in 2004, 647 took place in Gipuzkoa.

Within this movement the key part is created by organisers in the sense that the tradition of organising performances at fiestas and festivals is a common one throughout the territory. Organisers work independently, except in cases where they work closely with the bertsolaris, and this phenomenon, apart from creating a wide and diverse network of organisers, boosts contacts in a natural way between the various promoters of events and performances.

However, bertsolaritza is not just a festive expression; the plaza has to fill up, not only with voices and verses, but also with applause, laughter and cheering. This requires a good and prolific stream of talent – something currently not lacking in Gipuzkoa. All there is left to do is to look ahead and work so that things improve in the future.

Territories: Bizkaia Gipuzkoa: Historia