“It's a song I learned in Spain.” (March 28, 1814)

Flashmobs were actually invented in northern Spain. From Galicia to Navarra, from Vigo to Zaragoza, you see them everywhere. On a busy street corner, in the village square, in a bar or on a beach – someone starts humming a tune, someone snaps their fingers or claps their hands, someone pulls out a bagpipe, an oboe, an accordion, or a guitar (depending on where you are), they’re joined by castanets and a tambourine, and suddenly everyone is singing and dancing. This is the jota. (The j is pronounced like the ch in Scottish loch).

Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, Baile a orillas del Manzanares

© Museo Nacional del Prado

 

Apparently the jota originates from Aragón, and although it is prevalent in the north, it is known throughout Spain, with many regional variations in both the style and steps of the dance and the words of the songs. Like Scottish ballads, jotas are often very specific about location. “Camariñas”, the jota included in the Independent Heart soundtrack, refers to a place on the coast of Galicia. A well-known jota begins: “Desde Santurce a Bilbao…” (From Santurce to Bilbao), another implores us not to leave Navarra. The songs cover every imaginable topic, as you will find if you look at the jotas playlist I’ve put together for you on YouTube.

I’m sure there’s one expressing the highly original idea that storms are followed by sunshine. Since I couldn’t find it, I added another Galician folk song to the playlist, called “O berce do sol”, meaning sunrise. Justin would be likely to sing folk songs from Galicia, learning them from Pepe and his family, who sheltered him after he lost his regiment in January 1809. The "noble woman" Justin mentions at the end of Chapter 5 (p. 60) is Pepe's great-aunt Isabel. 

Another reason for choosing these songs is that I wanted to introduce Luz Casal and Luar na Nubre into this blog. Aren't they great?