The Transatlantic Ballad of "Delgadina": from Medieval Spain to Contemporary Cuba
Sarah Portnoy
THE TRANSATLANTIC BALLAD OF "DELGADINA": FROM MEDIEVAL SPAIN TO CONTEMPORARY CUBA Sarah Portnoy Los Angeles, California This two-part study discusses how "Delgadina", a father-daughter incest ballad of medieval origin that still survives in the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking worlds, serves as cultural portrait oftraditional societies analyzes why women may identify with tragic figure like Delgadina; second half, I examine die children's song version explaining Cuban children appropriated this Iberian adapted its setting to their own milieu. propose while ballads such "Delgadina" seemingly reflect reinforce male-centered system values, when examined within historical contexts, they also be understood subvert those norms. The continued ability Romancero, pan-Hispanic tradition, transcend time space led me investigate it has survived transformed Latin America. In 2001, decided do fieldwork Cuba, country explored by Columbus during height Hispanic ballad's popularity and, more recendy, isolated decades ofpoverty American foreign policy - factors made fruitful destination for research on oral traditions. During summer 2001 fall 2002, investigated vestiges Romancero conducting majority my cities Oriente, eastern region island, Baracoa Santiago de which chose dieir isolation Afro-Cuban population, respectively.1 1 did ofmy Baracoa, small city far northeastern tip ofthe second-largest city. La corónica 35.2 (Spring, 2007): 123-38 124Sarah PortnoyLa 35.2, 2007 When began research, knew had traveled soldiers conquistadores New World, who lived WOrId wras readily familiar them, existing tradition well printed broadsides books. They sang romances momentous occasions were so well-versed could use communicate, demonstrated Bernal Díaz del Castillo's well-known anecdote relating conquest Alonso Hernández Puertocarrero cited opening lines Carolingian "Montesinos, vengador su padre" Hernán Cortés upon seeing coast Mexico first 1519 (Diaz Castillo 1: 155). remained Cuba other parts World passed future generations, initiating process oftransculturation. migration later centuries, reinforcing or perhaps reviving existence tradition. bearers subsequent centuries included Spaniards born Colonial period; criollos, World; finally, mestizos Afro-Cubans. Despite long history ofSpanish colonization immigration, before investigation not know many romances, if any, little documenting been done since Revolution.2 Over course fieldw-ork, discovered only survive but these lead double life. are sung adults remote location. There was no highway connecting rest island until 960's. large population because wanted see ifthis general populace. My recordings ofCubans ofAfrican Iaitian ancestry verified indeed case. At fieldwork, there weir practically recent publications CubanRomancero. While groundbreaking Carolina Poncet, El Romance en Cuba., from 1914, is useful lor understanding CubanRomancero offers versions of"Delgadina", assessment now outdated, halfofthe twentieth century. Beatriz...
La corónica: A Journal of Medieval Hispanic Languages, Literatures, and Cultures