Txirrita
Encyclopedia
Jose Manuel Lujanbio Retegi (also known as Txirrita), born on Hernani
in 1860 and died in Altza in 1936, was a Basque
composer of verse, known as bertsolari
s.
in Errenteria
named Txirrita, from whence he acquired his nickname. In his last years he lived in the Gazteluene baserri in Altza.
Due to an accident he suffered in Goizueta
in May 1936, on June 3 of the same year he died in the Gazteluene baserri, in Altza.
. He began his career as a bertsolari aged 14, being in the company of bertsolaris much older than himself. He stood out by his sharp whit and agile tongue, and his witticisms left a lasting memory.
Many of his bertsos deal with social issues, and the thoughts and feelings of the lower clases. As Antonio Zavala was told, many people sought ought Txirrita to ask him to compose a bertso against other people. The subject of many of these bertsos was that of unrequited love. Txirrita composed his bertsos on the subject required and his nephew would write them down, later putting them into print, and after selling them on the fairs.
Thanks to collective memory and collectors of bertso-papers like Antonio Zavala, many of these bertsos were recorded. Txirrita became the prototypical bertsolari - an old bachelor, reveller and rogue. Although he was a skillful bricklayer, he didn't enjoy work, and at every opportunity he would seek out a tavern to drink, sing bertsos or bet. Txirrita was unschooled and although he could read, he could not write, the reason why he would dictate bertsos to his nephew.
In 1935 he was the runner-up in the first bertsolari championship of the Basque Country, and the year after won the championship.
, Hernani and Altza three streets bear his name. In Errenteria there is an industrial park called Txirrita-Maleo, named after its location between the farmhouses of Txirrita and Maleo.
Hernani, Spain
Hernani is a town and municipality located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country, Spain. It is located at Latitude: 43° 16' 0N , Longitude: 1° 58' 0W. Hernani has an altitude of 200 ft .-External links:* and Basque.* Basque, , and ....
in 1860 and died in Altza in 1936, was a Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
composer of verse, known as bertsolari
Bertsolari
A bertsolari is a singer of bertso, a musical verse in Basque tradition. The bertolaris are often found in pairs, in which a topic is sung extemporaneously in verses alternatively, but they can stage solo or group verse sessions too. It is usually sung to a slow tempo with long or short verses and...
s.
Life
He was born in the Ereñozu neighborhood of Hernani and when he was still a child, his family moved to a baserriBaserri
A baserri is a traditional type of half-timbered or stone-built farmhouse found in the Basque Country in Northern Spain and Southwestern France. The baserris, with their gently sloping roofs and entrace portals, are highly characteristic of the region and form a vital part in traditional Basque...
in Errenteria
Errenteria
Errenteria is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, North of Spain, near the French border. The river Oiartzun cuts its way through the town, one that has undergone severe pollution up to recent times on its lower...
named Txirrita, from whence he acquired his nickname. In his last years he lived in the Gazteluene baserri in Altza.
Due to an accident he suffered in Goizueta
Goizueta, Navarre
Goizueta is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.-External links:*...
in May 1936, on June 3 of the same year he died in the Gazteluene baserri, in Altza.
Txirrita the bertsolari
Although he was heir to the baserri, he left the farm and started working as bricklayerBricklayer
A bricklayer or mason is a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".The training of a trade in...
. He began his career as a bertsolari aged 14, being in the company of bertsolaris much older than himself. He stood out by his sharp whit and agile tongue, and his witticisms left a lasting memory.
Many of his bertsos deal with social issues, and the thoughts and feelings of the lower clases. As Antonio Zavala was told, many people sought ought Txirrita to ask him to compose a bertso against other people. The subject of many of these bertsos was that of unrequited love. Txirrita composed his bertsos on the subject required and his nephew would write them down, later putting them into print, and after selling them on the fairs.
Thanks to collective memory and collectors of bertso-papers like Antonio Zavala, many of these bertsos were recorded. Txirrita became the prototypical bertsolari - an old bachelor, reveller and rogue. Although he was a skillful bricklayer, he didn't enjoy work, and at every opportunity he would seek out a tavern to drink, sing bertsos or bet. Txirrita was unschooled and although he could read, he could not write, the reason why he would dictate bertsos to his nephew.
In 1935 he was the runner-up in the first bertsolari championship of the Basque Country, and the year after won the championship.
Legacy
In BilbaoBilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, Hernani and Altza three streets bear his name. In Errenteria there is an industrial park called Txirrita-Maleo, named after its location between the farmhouses of Txirrita and Maleo.