Xalbador.
Bertsolari. He was born in Urepel (Lower Navarre) on June 19, 1920. Shepherd in his hometown, he owes his nickname to his farmhouse, Xalbadorenea. He died of a heart attack on the day of his homage in Urepel on November 7, 1976.
A myth of this art, the shepherd of Urepel “Urepelgo artzaina” as he is also called, covers many pages in the history of bertsolaritza. Some for facts that convulsed his time and many others for his incredible anthology of written or improvised bertsos. Xabier Amuriza who collects part of this anthology in a sober and elegant that toured all the Basque Country and in a disc published later and titled Xalbador bat-bateko mirakulua (Edit. Elkarlanean, 2000) defines it as one of the summits of bertsolaritza of all times, as a miracle of improvisation as he would call this disc. The truth is that many of his written bertsos have been used as lyrics by Basque musicians, and in spite of this, Xabier Amuriza insists that his improvising facet is even more admirable. About his style he writes in the CD-Rom Bertsoen Mundua (Edit. Elhuyar, 1997) “In Xalbador's style there are endless questions, admirations and reinforcing resources. He uses an expressive language with a lot of force, even very literary for an oral language. Xalbador's strength is not rhetorical, but a consequence of the use of the right words, very deep. And underneath the form there are always heartbreaking ideas and feelings, metaphors... as when he was whistled and sang: Txistuak jo dizkidazue baina maite zaituztet orainik. Even if you have whistled at me, you know that I still love you”. (Translation of the author)
He participated in almost all the contests and championships of his time. He won many held in the continental Basque Country 1946 and 1960. He came fourth in the National Championship of 1960, third in the two following ones in 1962 and 1965 and second in 1967, where he was the protagonist of one of the most famous and important events both in the Championships and in bertsolaritza. This is how a newspaper explained what happened two days after the event:
BRONCA
Once the audience is settled and the jury table is occupied again, Alfonso Irigoyen reads the result of the jury's deliberations.
He passes to the final phase to dispute the title of champion with Uztapide the bersolari Xalbador.
This is the moment when a big whistle fills the entire Anoeta fronton court, a whistle that lasts a minute and a half. When the signs of dissatisfaction had subsided, the whistles came again, but this time mixed with applause. The bersolaris Uztapide and Xalbador, in silence in front of the microphones. The audience is divided; it seems that the whistles drown out the applause; it is then that Xalbador's supporters stand up and applaud their supporter. A member of the jury urges the bersolaris to begin, but they remain silent. Finally, Uztapide, in the middle of the shouting, lets his voice be heard and sings a verse of greeting.
It is Xalbador's turn, but when he tries to intervene, the whistles and the applause start up again. Xalbador begins to sing and there is silence.
He says the following:
Anai-arrebak, ez, otoi, pentsaneure gustora nagonikpoz geiago izango nuenalbotik bea egonikZuek ezpazerate kontentuerrua ez daukat ez nik;txistuak jo dituzute bainanmaite zaituztet orainik.
When reaching the lines “Zuek ezpazerate kontentu, errua ez daukat nik” there is such an ovation, now with unanimity joining the two tendencies, that Xalbador has to both lines to continue the verse.
Here is the translation: “Brothers, think that I am not at ease; I would be much happier away from this matter. But if you do not feel happy, it is not my fault; even if you have whistled at me, you know that I still love you”.
After this verse of Xalbador the public wanted to that their dissatisfaction was not with the bersolari but with the decision taken by the jury. So it is that in the successive thing it redoubled its samples of affection with the offended bersolari, but it did not waste occasion so that the jury knew that the displeasure went with him and thus one of the times that the jury rose was strongly whistled, whistle that continued when it was going through a corridor of the court, to a reserved one to carry out the votes. After the incident, the competition went on as normal”.
(“La Voz de España” 13-06-1967).
As far as written bertsos are concerned, it is worth mentioning that he won the most prestigious competition of the time, the ‘Xenpelar Saria’ prize, four times in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976. He wrote several books with his written bertsos, among them the famous and for many people the pinnacle in this type of publication Odolaren mintzoa (Edit. Auspoa liburtegia, 1976) as well as two other books in the ‘Auspoa’ collection: Ezin bertzean (Edit. Auspoa liburutegia, 1969. Auspoa 85) and Herria gogoan (Edit. Auspoa liburutegia 1981. Auspoa 152) which were written with his bertsos after his death.
Both during his lifetime and after his death, he has received many tributes. In 1967 one was paid to him in Hernani, the second day of the bertsolari (II. Bertsolari Eguna) paid tribute to him in Donostia-San Sebastián on 21 November 1969. On the day he died, he was paid tribute to by bertsolaris and enthusiasts from all over the Basque Country in his home town, where year after year they have gathered again on a date close to the date of his death.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)