My First Cante

[Frontera]

Here is my first Cante, a Bulerias with four octosyllabic lines in English. Converting it to Spanish to be authentic flamenco poses a real challenge since my Spanish is somewhat lacking.


When I was young, I played much guitar
Now old I listen to guitar and song
I have lived flamenco backwards
Such was the foolishness of youth

I tried to manufacture flamenco
From long hours and days of practice
I listened some but my ears heard not
From the heart where flamenco lives

I tried to play like the masters
I sounded like a sick parrot
That talked without ever listening
Then young, I did not understand

Now older I live for the day
I hear weakly and distorted
I hear flamenco from the heart
I allow my hands to play freely

They are free from desires of youth
The desire to impress others
Now I play from raw emotions
Not from cold mechanical practice

I have lived flamenco backwards
I should have listened as a youth
Then played as an elder
Nevertheless, backwards flamenco is better than no flamenco

[Bob Weisenberg]

I love this! Thanks for sharing this very personal verse with us.

[falseta]

Great cante verses! Thanks for posting! I am sure someone in the forum or future member can help with translation.

[Frontera]

Thanks to both of you for your kind response ... most don't realize the complexity of Cante verses. The problem comes when translating this into Spanish, keeping the same meaning and having either 3 or 4 octosyallibic lines necessary for a Bulerias.

[Bob Weisenberg]

Are you a singer, too?

[Frontera]

No ... my singing is so bad my shower gets offended and shuts off!

I am a story teller and even though I have written three novels (all failed) and a cowboy poetry book, I am not a writer. I am not good with grammar, etc., and too old to learn now or care. I can't sing at all. I have NO natural talent for music ... I had to learn it the hard way by teaching myself to read music and do scales on the guitar until I trained my ear. I use to work with a metronome, but don't even bother with that anymore. I got interested in Cante verses to try and understand what flamenco was all about.

[falseta]

Originally Posted by Frontera

No ... my singing is so bad my shower gets offended and shuts off!

HAHAHA... Nice!

Originally Posted by Frontera

I am a story teller and even though I have written three novels (all failed) and a cowboy poetry book, I am not a writer. I am not good with grammar, etc., and too old to learn now or care. I can't sing at all. I have NO natural talent for music ... I had to learn it the hard way by teaching myself to read music and do scales on the guitar until I trained my ear. I use to work with a metronome, but don't even bother with that anymore. I got interested in Cante verses to try and understand what flamenco was all about.

Ouch! A bit hard on yourself... You wrote three more novels than I or most other people have ever written... Keep up the great work!