If you want to delve into the characteristics of Amado Carballo’s work, visit this page, or this other one that talks about Ánxel Casal’s editorials.

Here I am in Pontevedra, in front of house number 9 on Benito Corbal Street (called Progreso at the beginning of the 20th century), at the foot of the church of San Francisco, where in 1901 Luís Amado Carballo was born on the second floor.

In this house on Progreso Street he grew up as the only child of Luís Amado de la Riega (from Pontevedra) and Consuelo Carballo Pesqueira (Redondela). From this house he went to classes at the Balmes School, in Méndez Núñez Square, where he studied until 1912, when he entered the then-called General and Technical Institute of the city of Lérez. In this property on the corner of Benito Corbal and Cobián Roffignac, Amado Carballo played and even dreamed of a future that he did not know would be cut short when he was still very young.

“Candeloria”, taken from the book “Proel”, was the poem by Amado Carballo that caught on in me. A kind of almost minimalist musical treatment that allowed us to anchor in the folk-rock estuary. Great work by Antón Torroncho on electric bass, Paco Cerdeira on electric guitar, Richi Casas on tenor sax and me on drums and vocals and backing vocals.

Na catedral do abrente	In the cathedral at dawn
hoxe casan os paxaros,	today the birds get married,
con nubes de neve e ouro	with clouds of snow and gold
está o ceo galanado.	the sky is adorned.
Ficou o día ancorado	The day was anchored
na ría donda do ceo.	in the soft estuary of the sky.
Os roibéns soben no lonxe	The blushes rise in the distance
como rosarios de incenso.	like rosaries of incense.
O xantar do casamento,	Wedding breakfast,
roibo, na palma da man	reddish, in the palm of the hand
das eiras madrugadoras,	of the dawning grounds
xa está arranxado no val.	is already prepared in the valley.
Lai larai larai, larai lai larai larai lai lai	Lai larai larai, larai lai larai larai lai lai
lai larai larai…	lai larai larai…
Candeloria. (x2)	Candlemas. (x2)
Vai tocando polo campo	Goes playing through the field
a sua zanfona o rego	his hurdy-gurdy the irrigation
e canta o vento nas farpas	and sings the wind in the beak
sonoras dos piñeiros.	sounds of the pines
O campo as montanas ruzas	The field the brown mountains
envolve en capa pluvial,	wraps in raincoat
co hisopo do sol mollado	with the swab of the wet sun
dalles a beizón nupcial.	gives them the nuptial blessing.
Do casebre nugallán	From the lazy shack
soben os vivas dos galos	the cheers of the roosters rise
e na festa desta noite	and at the party tonight
estrena un luar o campo.	a moonlight opens the field.
Lai larai larai, larai lai larai larai lai lai	Lai larai larai, larai lai larai larai lai lai
lai larai larai…	lai larai larai…
Candeloria. (x2)	Candlemas. (x2)

Here I leave you a version in trio format, composed by Alberto Romero on electric guitar, Fernando Román on soprano sax and me on electric drums and voice. The recording comes from the performance we gave in Valdoviño (A Coruña) on Friday, March 11, 2022. Miguel Otero was at the sound table. Enjoy it.

To listen to it, click on the title above the photo.

You can take a look at this link to listen to what Xoán Babarro says about Amado Carballo.

If you want to see more anniversaries related to the lyrical authors of the album “Popsia Vol. I” click HERE.