This long prose poem was read by Lorca on his tour of South America in 1934 and was published here in its first English translation by the distinguished Lorca scholar and translator, Christopher Maurer; in it Lorca captures the sensuous tonalities of Granada by punctuating his recitation with the Andalusian folk songs he found so illustrative of the spirit of his native city. |
How a City Sings
from November to November/ Comó canta una ciudad de noviembre a noviembre by Federico García Lorca Translated and Edited by Christopher Maurer Cover Illustration, both editions by Federico García Lorca portrait of Lorca by Carolyn Cassady calligraphy by Pamela Orphan Bilingual, with translation en face from Spanish text Issued with sheet music, inserted, for two of the songs First edition 1983 100 pages, 6" x 9" ISBN 0-932274-36-6 Red Cloth Cover edition: 26 lettered copies signed by Christopher Maurer and Carolyn Cassady Cream Cloth Cover edition: 1/100 copies signed by Christopher Maurer and Carolyn Cassady License Expired, Rights Reverted From the Book
Like the boy full of wonder who shows his mother dressed in bright colors for the party, I want to show you the city where I was born, the city of Granada. I will give you examples of her music, and I will have to sing them . . . feeling quite so proud. Why must we always use only our sight, and never our smell or taste to study a city? The special pastries, the alfajor, the torta alajú, the mantecado of Laujar, tell us quite as much about Granada as do the glazed tiles or the Moorish arch. About the Book Of unusual importance [is] How a City Sings from November to November, a translation of Lorca's lecture about Granada—written in 1933 but here appearing in English for the first time, and furnished with a portrait of the author by Beat-connected artist Carolyn Cassady. — Mary Biggs CHOICE, September 1985 also by Christopher Maurer
Afterword for Pelicans |