Music. Basque folk songs: Antxu gazte; Auxen da bada kostuma; Aldapeko sagarraren; Sekula santan; Luis gaiztoak; Ondarrutar oriek; Burduntzali xar; Dendari bat bada; Ondarrabia, erri txikia; Señeru gaizto; Urriaren iruan. [R. M. de A., Cancionero (nos. 8, 105, 195, 435, 655, 670, 698, 699, 879, 895, 991)]. Father Donostia presents melody no. 333 in his E. E. S.
Literature. Highlights include the Juegos Florales of 1883, 1914, and 1925.
Juegos Florales in Fuenterrabía (1883). Organized by the Euskara Association of Navarre, the Euskalerria Society of Bilbao, and the City Council of Fuenterrabía. Held on September 7–9, with unusual animation. September 9 was devoted to the historical-literary contest. No prizes were awarded for the best Basque works due to lack of quality. The “silver medal” of the Euskara Association went to the legend Aztua by Antonio Arzac y Alberdi. The “silver medal” of the Euskalerria Society went to the verse composition Uste ez neban ordu bat (“An Unexpected Moment”) by Arrese Beitia. A “bronze medal,” accesit, was awarded to D. Cayetano Sánchez. A “silver medal” for the best singable poem on the theme of fueros went to Gure Ama gaberik ez gintezke bizi (“We cannot live without our mother”) by Claudio Otaegui. Supplementary prizes were awarded to Nere erriko ujola (“The Flood of My Village”) by Arrese Beitia and Arbol maite bati (“To a Dear Tree”) signed “Euskaldun bat.” The City Council hired bertsolaris J. P. Otaño, J. M. Alcain (Udarregui), Pedro Elicegui, and Juan Bautista Aurquia (Gorriya). Musical and drumming contests were lively. On Sunday, the 9th, the awards were presented in the Consistorial Hall, presided over by the mayor, the last foral deputy D. Fermín de Sagarmínaga de Vizcaya, and D. Arturo Campión. Arrese Beitia and Otaegui read their works, and D. Arturo Campión read one of the most vibrant, by Beitia. The jury: José Iriarte, Iturralde y Suit, Teófano Cortés, Arturo Campión.
1914. Euskaras celebrations and literary contest. Festivities were suspended in mourning for the European war, but the jury results were:
Theme I: Historical compendium of Fuenterrabía. Submissions: 2. Prize: not awarded.
Theme II: Geography of Guipúzcoa, Biscay, Alava, or Navarre for children. Submissions: 4. Prize of 150 ptas to D. Eugenio Urroz y Erro for Gipuzkoako azalben laburra (“Brief Explanation of Guipúzcoa”). Second prizes of 50 ptas to P. Román María de Bera for Lutelestia and D.ª Ignacia Pradere for Gipuzkoa'ren lurrazalbena.
Theme III: Biography of painter Echena. Submissions: 2. Prize: not awarded. Second prize 50 ptas to D. Felipe Ayerbe for J.I. Echenagusiaren bizitza (“Life of J. I. Echenagusia”).
Theme IV: Children’s play. Submissions: 1. Prize: not awarded.
Theme V: Adaptation of a Trueba story. Submissions: 5. Prize of 100 ptas to Ziñistuten dot Jaungoikoagan (“I Believe in God”) by D. José Manuel de Echeita. Second prize 50 ptas to Urikoa (“The Citizen”) by the same author. Third prizes 25 ptas to Jon-uso (“John Palomo”) by D. Nicasio Larrea and Ukulluko aurrea (“The Courtyard Child”) by D. Sebastián Gaztañaga. Jury lamented not awarding Ugaz ama (“Stepmother”) by D. Nicasio Larrea, submitted late, and agreed to publish it.
Theme VI: Poetic composition dedicated to the arrantzale (“fisherman”). Submissions: 5. Prize: not awarded. Second prizes 50 ptas to Ondarrabi'ko arrantzalea (“The Fisherman of Fuenterrabía”) by P. Román María de Bera; Arrantzale baten urrumak (“Laments of a Fisherman”) by D. Ramón Inzagaray; ¡Itxasora! (“To the Sea”) by D. José García Goldaraz.
Themes VII–XI: Collections of riddles, maxims to preserve Euskera, combat alcoholism, encourage savings, and promote respect for authorities and elders. Most prizes were vacant, with honorary mentions awarded.
1925. Finally…! reported G. Mújica. September 3–13. Organized by the Diputación and City Council. The program harmoniously combined Basque life, religion, language, art, science, and economy. Cattle exhibitions, concerts, bertsolari sessions, open-air cinema, fine arts exhibitions, processions, football matches, drumming contests, poetry readings, and Basque theater performances (Mari-Philipa ta Joxe Gergorio'ren ezkontza-erabakia and Ezer ez ta festa).