AUTHORS

INTRODUCTION

I. SOCIOCULTURAL REALITY AND PRESENT-DAY BERTSOLARITZA

II. ACHIEVING A BALANCE AMONGST THE CHALLENGES FACING BERTSOLARITZA: KEYS TO THE CREATIVITY OF THE TRADITION

III. THE PROCESS OF CREATING IMPROVISED BERTSOS

IV. PROPOSALS FOR A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

V. GLOSSARY

Joxerra Garzia Garmendia
(Legazpi, 1953). After graduating in philosophy and journalism, he obtained a doctorate in Audiovisual Communication and Advertising in 1999 with his thesis, Gaur egungo bertsolarien baliabide poetiko-erretorikoak (The poetic-rhetorical resources of modern bertsolaris). His professional career in bertsolaritza started with a radio programme on Euskadi Irratia (1983-1988) and later, at the request of the Bertsozale Elkartea, he became creator, director and host of the TV programme Hitzetik Hortzera on Euskal Telebista (1988-1993). A jury member at many championships, he has brought a significant body of work of critical analysis to bertsolaritza through articles and essays. He is currently lecturing on Advertising at the Basque University and he is a member of the team working on a method of developing orality in schools. He is author of stories and poems and has received a number of awards. He was President of the Basque Writers’ Association from 1993 to 1997.

Jon Sarasua Maritxalar
(Aretxabaleta, 1966). Bertsolari. He studied journalism and sociology in Bilbao. In 1996 he got his doctorate with the thesis, Bi begiratu euskarazko kazetari hizkerari (Two approaches to journalistic language in the Basque language). He is currently lecturing in the History of Thought at Mondragon University. His articles have been published by Argia, Jakin and Bertsolari magazines and in the daily Euskaldunon Egunkaria newspaper. He is co-author, with Andoni Egaña, of Zozoak beleari (1997), an original paper on current bertsolaritza. That same year he published the treatise, Biziaren hizkuntzaz: Txepetxekin solasean, on the sociology of the language. He is an Executive Member of Bertsozale Elkartea and the instigator of much of the research carried out into modern bertsolarismo.

Andoni Egaña Makazaga
Born in Zarautz (Gipuzkoa) in 1961. Bertsolari. He studied Basque language at the University of the Basque Country in Gasteiz. Winner of the National Championships in 1993 and 1997. His professional career involves bertsolaritza, writing articles and television scripts. His articles have been collected in a book (Aitaren batean, 1990), and he has published a collection of children’s stories (Sokratikoek ere badute ama, 1989), a series of letters (Zozoak beleari, 1997), and a novel (Pausoa noiz luzatu, 1998). He has been an Executive Member of Bertsozale Elkartea (1995-2000) and is currently working on a method of developing orality in schools. Together with Jon Sarasua and Joxerra Garzia, he is one of the main theoreticians of modern bertsolarismo.