Hello everybody! As some of know, Spain is a 'country of countries' (Galicia, Catalonia, Basque Country etc). There is even another language in a very small region inside of Catalonia (the Aran Valley, in the Spanish Pyrenees) called Aranese, which is a variety of Occitan language (spoken in Southern France) and it is also similar to Catalan. A part of my family speaks Aranese language and I just wanted to share with you a song that is considered as a hymn in the occitan regions, which I love. This song is called 'Montanhes araneses' ('Aranese mountains'), you can hear several versions of it in aranese and occitan and read the lyrics in aranese at the following website:
By the way, the Cathars lived in the Languedoc, a former province of France, where Occitan is still spoken. This is for you to enjoy, I hope you like it! All the best,
Thank you, Izarriel, it's great to hear from you again. It's interesting that your father listens to music that has reminiscences of the occitan culture in Basque. Yes, the word 'aran' means 'valley', in fact the name in Spanish of the Aran Valley is redundant: "El valle de Arán", which means "The valley of valleys". Also in Ireland there are the Aran islands, one of them is Inishmore, which is also one of the places that inspired Loreena to write the song "The mummers dance", I'd like to know what is the connection between Aran in Ireland and Spain... Yours,
MANEL
quote:
Originally posted by izarriel: Hello Manel
Thanks for sharing this link and this music. I didn't know that in the valley of Aran they had a singular language. But the Pyrenean mountains are full of local cultural specificities. one version of this song remembers me the basque choirs my father listen. (and Aran is a basque word for valley) greetings
Thanks for sharing this link and this music. I didn't know that in the valley of Aran they had a singular language. But the Pyrenean mountains are full of local cultural specificities. one version of this song remembers me the basque choirs my father listen. (and Aran is a basque word for valley) greetings
Izarriel
Posts: 73 | Location: near a road by to many-towered La Defense | Registered: August 14, 2006
Greetings Manel, Ah, I see you are a student of traditional languages and music Manel! If you are interested in a taste of traditional music for this region, I can share a link that you may enjoy. Let me know via email. Thanks again for sharing. Ciao Maria
Thanks Maria, it's very encouraging to see that still there are people who appreciate this kind of music. It's nice to know that this music has influenced other regions of the country, you're right, it is a hymn in the occitan regions and in fact the song 'Montanhes araneses' ('Aranese mountains') is the official one of the Aran Valley. Hugs!
MANEL
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Originally posted by maria: Hi Manel, Thank you for sharing this lovely anthem. It's beautiful! There is a hymn performed in our Cathedral choir called "Immaculate Mary" that appears to have borrowed the air/music. When I was a teen I played quitar in the youth choir and that hymm was the most favourite among the parishioners of our small church whose backgrounds were all Scottish...Makes one ponder on the connection of the Scottish/Celtic and Italian cultures. Thanks for sharing. Maria
Hi Manel, Thank you for sharing this lovely anthem. It's beautiful! There is a hymn performed in our Cathedral choir called "Immaculate Mary" that appears to have borrowed the air/music. When I was a teen I played quitar in the youth choir and that hymm was the most favourite among the parishioners of our small church whose backgrounds were all Scottish...Makes one ponder on the connection of the Scottish/Celtic and Italian cultures. Thanks for sharing. Maria
