Bertso Eskolak Basque Improvisational Poetry Schools
The volume compiles the proceedings of the conference on Basque improvisational verse
singing, bertsolaritza, and its pedagogical organizations, bertso-schools. For decades bertsolaritza was considered an innate talent that could not be learned; but in the 1980s the techniques and artistry of improvisational verse singing were articulated by the newly created bertso-schools and, hence, made accessible to anyone willing to take up the craft. The bertso-schools' grassroots educational initiative helps transmit Basque cultural heritage to new generations and supports a communication network that is founded on collaboration, diversity, and social engagement.
singing, bertsolaritza, and its pedagogical organizations, bertso-schools. For decades bertsolaritza was considered an innate talent that could not be learned; but in the 1980s the techniques and artistry of improvisational verse singing were articulated by the newly created bertso-schools and, hence, made accessible to anyone willing to take up the craft. The bertso-schools' grassroots educational initiative helps transmit Basque cultural heritage to new generations and supports a communication network that is founded on collaboration, diversity, and social engagement.