Customer Reviews

Miguel Hernandez

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am delighted to find this album finally available on CD. I have loved this music for 25 years, but had only a much loved, scratched LP (that's vinyl, for young people) until now. The album is a tribute in music to the poetry of Miguel Hernandez. I personally speak no Spanish and understand perhaps 20 words out of context. However, I first heard this album when a college roommate, originally from Cuba, played it in our dormitory room in 1973. I was captivated by the music, and when I asked her to translate some of the lyrics, I was enchanted, especially by "Menos Tu Vientre" and hauntingly by "Umbrio por la Pena." I borrowed her LP and played it again and again--and finally Silvia said, "Here, keep it--you love it even more than I do!" I have never tired of it, and soon sought out other works by Serrat. But nothing compares, in my mind, with "Miguel Hernandez." Listening to this CD has also helped me to learn and appreciate the rhythms and music of the Spanish language itself. I hope others will discover Serrat, and especially this album. I'm sure it will affect others as it has done for me. Especially in this week of September 11, 2001, in the sad and shocked wake of the World Trade Center and Pentagon disasters, I have found "Umbrio por la Pena," as only Serrat could express it, a great comfort. --Ann Weber, Professor of Psychology, UNC at Asheville, Asheville NC

Joan Manuel Serrat (1943) is one of the greatest Spanish folk singer. He is much more than that! He is a Poet, Musician & Troubadour, permanently touring around Spain & Latin America.
Serrat's first compositions were done & sang in Catalan as he was engaged in artistic-resistant movement opposing Franco's regimen & politics that include forbidding regional languages.
His first success sang in Spanish was the single "Poema de Amor" (1968) closely followed by "Tu Nombre me Sabe a Hierba" (1969). After those two hits Spanish speaking musical market was in turmoil demanding more from Joan Manuel.
"Mediterraneo" (1971) and "Miguel Hernandez" (1972) were two remarkable LPs springing from his heart and his political affiliation.

Miguel Hernandez (1910-1942) was a goat herder since boyhood till he was fifteen years old. He was an autodidact and fall in love with poetry. His first compositions were simple and pastoral. From there on he evolved to be a cultured "neogongorist" mastering language and metrics.
At Madrid he entered in touch with poets like Neruda, Alberti and Cernuda evolving his political stands and poetic style.
As Civil War erupted in Spain he fervently defended the Republic stressing himself in different posts and fronts.
When republicans were defeated by Franco's troops he was imprisoned and died in 1942 from tuberculosis without regaining freedom.

The compositions contained in this CD are Serrat's musicalization for Hernandez poetry. A rich mixture of musical sounds and significant texts flows from this excellent CD.
"Para la Libertad" is a dramatic composition written when Miguel was hospitalized during the war. It reflects the feeling of a freedom-fighter giving his own body bit by bit for his cause and knowing that those lost parts will fructify.
"Elegia" is composition mourning for the sudden death of his beloved friend Ramon Sije; Serrat's music and voice dress up the verses with deep melancholic tones.
"Umbrio por la Pena" transmits the deep pain of the poet in his last days before passing away.
"Nanas de la Cebolla" dedicated to his only child growing up with famine and deprived of his presence. Even if you do not understand the words, Serrat's artistry will convey the profound emotion contained in this heartbreaking poem.
The rest of the tracks in this CD are outstanding! Do not miss this gem!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

En este disco Serrat musicaliza e interpreta de una manera exquisita y casi perfecta algunos poemas de otro gran poeta de la literatura española, como lo es Miguel Hernández. En los poemas se refleja el alma de Miguel Hernández que muestra dolor, desesperación, amor, muerte, la lucha por la libertad, entre otras muchas cosas, propias de su trágica vida; y en la música y en la voz de Serrat se acompañan y se acentúan tales sentimientos. Este disco es una joya de la música en español, tanto por su contenido poético como por su contenido musical; uno de los mejores discos de Serrat, sino es que el mejor.

Como he leído en esta misma página lo escrito por otro revisor, a esta altura cualquier disco de Serrat es uno de sus mejores trabajos, y este no es la excepción. Es más, yo catalogaría a este trabajo como una verdadera obra maestra. Desde "Menos tu vientre" hasta "LLego con tres heridas", todos y cada uno de los títulos incluidos son verdaderas joyas que uno no se cansa de escuchar. Como puse en el titulo de esta revisión, tengo reservas en cuanto a la calidad de sonido del CD, pero bien vale la aclaración que el ejemplar que yo tengo fue una de las primeras ediciones, y por ende el sonido está lleno de un molesto soplido de cinta y escaso brillo. Obviamente desconozco si este aspecto fue o no corregido en ediciones posteriores, pero sin duda de estar disponible una versión remasterizada yo la compraría sin dudarlo un solo instante.

Creo que la única forma de intentar explicar este disco (si es que los discos pueden explicarse) es con el lenguaje del corazón. Y aún así puede que el intento sea infructuoso. Porque de la ternura infinita de "Menos tu vientre" a la desgarradora "Elegía", de la fiesta del "Romancillo de Mayo" a la indignación del "Niño Yuntero", es posible que pensemos que las palabras están de más. Miguel Hernández, pastor y poeta, hizo de la transparencia y la sencillez poesía honda, profunda, que la voz de Serrat nos transmite como solo él puede hacerlo. Me pregunto si es posible no emocionarse al escuchar las "Nanas de la cebolla", me pregunto si no nos contagian de valentía los versos de "Para la libertad". La voz de Joan Manuel en su apogeo, en su más absoluta madurez interpretativa, sumado a una orquestación casi única dentro de su discografía. En fin, este disco, como el buen vino, con el correr de los años se vuelve más exquisito al paladar, más sabroso y nos sigue deparando, a treinta años de su aparición, el asombro.

Un gran album de Serrat, musicalizando los poemas de Miguel Hernandez, pastor de cabras en su niñez, militante republicano, prisionero del franquismo tras la guerra civil (falleció de tuberculosis en la carcel en 1942 a los 31 años), hoy considerado como uno de los mejores poetas españoles del siglo pasado. Este album vio la luz en 1972, durante la etapa mas productiva del cantautor catalan, los primeros años de la década del 70, de donde provienen sus mejores albumes. Si no es el mejor album de Serrat (a mi entender, Mediterraneo y Dedicado a Antonio Machado son ligeramente superiores) le pega en el palo. Ademas de Para la Libertad (el más conocido del album, un tema que ha perdurado en el repertorio de Serrat hasta la actualidad), el resto de las canciones tambien son excelentes, especialmente La Boca, Nanas de la Cebolla, El Niño Yuntero, Llego con Tres Heridos.

Of course the style, the many years passed, and the poetry itself, that if wonderful, but practically unknown in the English speaking world, may be an obstacle for you to appreciate this incredible CD, specially if you do not understand Spanish, however if you read Hernandez's poetry even in translation and despite the few I have ever read in English are not too good, but if you familiarize yourself with Serrat's more catchy tunes like Mediterraneo you may be able to appreciate both Miguel Hernandez great poetry and Joan Manuel Serrat musical talent.

Miguel Hernandez a giant but little known poet yet,eventually he will catch up and people will know him as well as Lorca.

Joan Manuel Serrat in his time as great as Joan Baes, or Dylan in the Spanish speaking world. Make one of the greatest records of a generation, a truly Classic.

And you may find as Mrs. Weber. A critic here, that it could be one of your most liked albums.

I am excited knowing that next year will be a Century of the birth of the Poet in Orihuela "Su pueblo y el mio" (never being there but those words in his Elegia to Ramon Sije make Orihuela also my town, and everybody else who is moved by this song, their town too!) And hope that new editions of his books, and interest in his poetry may be promoted, and perhaps another better quality release of Serrat's magnificent album be available.

I love this album. I am glad I found a CD. Mi vinyl copy is totally gone from so much playing. I believe Serrat interprets the Miguel Hernandez's poetry in such exquisite and touching way. My favorite is Nana de las Cebollas. Makes me appreciate the freedom and all that I have.

Eso fue mi primer disco de musica hispanica, mi primer "encuentro" con la poesia de Miguel Hernandez, entonces si tiene una lugar especial en mi vida...
La poesia de Miguel de Orihuela no se puede calificar, creo que significa algo diferente para cada uno de nosotros. La musica de Serrat se adapta magnificamente a estas maravillosas poesias.
Mi favoritas son "Llego con tres heridas" y "Para la libertad" pero se disfruta de todas las otras con muchisimo placer.
Ojala Serrat cante mas de las poesias de Miguel!