Have you heard Manuel De Falla’s Siete Canciones Populares Españoles?

In researching for this post, I discovered that today’s letra came from that piece.

I think you’ll enjoy watching Javier Barón dance to it, and I know you’ll absolutely love watching Matilde Coral dance bulerías to Diego Carrasco’s singing at the end of the clip.

El paño moruno
Gregorio Martínez Sierra

Al paño fino, en la tienda,
una mancha le cayó;
Por menos precio se vende,
Porque perdió su valor.
¡Ay!

The Moorish Cloth

Upon the fine cloth in the store
fell a stain;
It sells for a lesser price,
For it has lost its value.
Oh!

Listen to a traditional version here.

This article talks analyzes this and all seven of the songs in De Falla’s composition and gives background on Manuel de Falla himself. In it he quotes De Falla saying that in his view, the spirit of a popular song is more important than the words themselves. Take a look here.

Watch Javier Barón and José Antonio Ruíz dance to this one at. (Don’t forget to check out Matilde Coral’s bulerías at the end.)

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Cover photo by Phil Henry on Unsplash