Home Away From Home: A History Of Basque Boarding Houses

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by Jeronima Echeverria

Jeronima Echeverria provides a detailed understanding of why Basque boardinghouses, or “ostatuak,” were created and the importance of their operation to the immigrants who came to the United States.  She continues by sharing the history of each geographical location where the various ostatuak operated, providing historical references on locations, owners, boardinghouse layouts, and, where possible, personal recollections from boarders. This book provides a wonderful historical account and research of 500+ ostatuak between 1860 and 1950. The book is available to borrow from our library or available for purchase on Amazon.

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Euskadiko Orkestra

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by the Basque National Orchestra

By most standards, the Basque National Orchestra is a young symphony since it was formed in 1982. Their music catalogue is vast and rich, but what is a fun and luscious experience is traveling through their Basque Music Collection, a 15-volume discography that reflects Basque musicians and composers of international fame.

While the pandemic may have been the inspiration for the Brucknerian-inspired version of “Agur Jaunak” (click here to listen), Euskadiko Orkestra is the gift that keeps on giving, particularly for those of us who are not able to experience their work in person.

We encourage you to follow their YouTube channel, but also many of their recordings can be found on other digital formats such as iTunes and Amazon Music. In the meantime, to get your feet wet, we dare you to go to their website, pick an album, press PLAY, close your eyes, and take part in all the beautiful journeys so many Basque composers have created for us to enjoy. Happy listening!

VISIT EUSKADIKO ORKESTRA

Intimacy (Intimidad)

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a Netflix series

Looking for a weekend television binge? Curled up on the couch with a glass of red wine in hand and wondering what to watch? Well, Intimidad (Intimacy) is our BEOpick for that. Starring celebrated Basque actress Itziar Ituño (of Money Heist fame), Intimacy follows the story of Malen Zubiri, vice-mayor of Bilbao, as she navigates the male-dominated world of politics. Sex, intrigue, betrayal, scandal – Intimacy has it all. Yet, at the core, this BEOpick is a window into modern Basque urban life, highlighting the barriers that women everywhere face when standing against oppression.

The eight episodes of Intimacy are currently streaming on Netflix.

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Three Wives’ Tales

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by Dale Erquiaga

“To the wives!” This beautifully written novel opens with a recounting of a story involving this simple wedding toast, a signal to the reader that what follows is a tribute to the strength of women, the power of familial bonds, and the tenacity of the human spirit. Part fiction, part memoir, and part historical account, this Basque author tells the compelling and memorable story of three pivotal matriarchal figures in his family. Told through a series of vivid vignettes spanning countries, decades, and generations, the experiences of the these women are brought to life, evoking the hopes, challenges, successes, heartbreak, and emotions of the immigrant experience. Three Wives’ Tales is a worthwhile, heartfelt novel that honors and celebrates the importance of family and the courage and determination of the human will.

*This book will soon be available in the BEO’s library. Check it out HERE. If you’re not finding it, CLICK HERE to SEND US AN EMAIL and let us know you’re interested in borrowing this book.

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“Witches” and Wily Women

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The Basque language (Euskara) is unrelated to any other language spoken today. In Euskara, the use of pronouns plays a powerful, crucial role as it relates to gender, societal, and cultural identity. 

This book offers a fascinating and insightful exploration of Euskara, as it relates to culture and gender. Begona Echeverria provides an in-depth look at the historical use and evolving marginalization of “noka” (a familiar form of address historically used in speaking to a girl or woman in whom one had konfiantza or trust) in Euskara, and its impact on Basque society and gender as seen through historical, religious, cultural, and folkloric lenses. 

Side note: Echeverria is a member of “NOKA”, a Basque-American singing trio, who promote women through songs using “noka”.

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Up close and Personal: A chat with Begona Echeverria, singer-songwriter of “Bonbarazi Du Gernika”

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Begoña Echeverria, author (The Hammer of Witches), playwright (“Picasso Presents Gernika”), and singer-songwriter, has released a song and music video named “Bonbarazi Du Gernika” in honor of the 85th anniversary of the bombing of Gernika on this day, April 26th.

Why we love this

The song is poignant and important, and the video is beautiful. Not only that, but her perspective below has given us an even deeper, richer appreciation for this performance. You’re not fluent in Basque? No problem –  Begoña provides English translation towards the end of the video.

WATCH THE VIDEO + READ THE INTERVIEW

XALBADOR: IZANA ETA IZENA

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The legendary bertsolari, Xalbador, is an inspiration to current bertsolaris and the subject of the film “Xalbador, Izana eta Izena.” This film is an intimate portrayal of his life story through his children, friends and his bertsos. Click here to watch the trailer, and/or request the film in its entirety, with English subtitles, from our library. 

A side note: This past March the BEO was a proud sponsor of the North American Basque Organization’s Bertsolari Special Tribute, where U.S.-based bertsolaris were honored for their lifetime of service to the Basque community.

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Amatxi Amuma Amona: Writings in Honor of Basque Women

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In honor of Women’s history month, this book was chosen to commemorate and reflect on the often overlooked contributions of women. It’s a collection of stories, biographies and academic articles celebrating the resiliency of Basque women throughout time and all over the globe. The collection begins with a two quaint fictional stories, leads into the chronicles of the amazing lives of several famous (and not so famous) Basque women, and wraps up with academia articles ranging in content, but focused on Basque women.

This book is available at the Center for Basque Studies Bookstore.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

SHOOTING FROM THE LIP

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Bertsolaritza is the art of singing extemporaneously composed songs in improvised stanzas (Bertsoak) in Basque by improvisers known as Bertsolaris. Shooting from the Lip, by Jose Mallea-Olaetxa, is the first bilingual Bersto book printed in America that is dedicated to Basque-American verse singing. Olaetxa beautifully weaves together the history of Berstogintza (the craft), the various bertsolaris, and their impact on the Basque-American identity. 

A fun fact: In June 2003, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) acknowledged four Basque Bertsolaris in the United States for NEA’s National Heritage Fellowships.

CLICK HERE TO BORROW THIS BOOK FROM OUR LIBRARY

Flower (Loreak)

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This multiple-award winning film is a beautiful story that begins with Ane, a married woman in her early forties, who begins receiving a bouquet of flowers every single week from an anonymous admirer; however, when this individual comes to light, the flowers come to symbolize every human connection through the intertwining of unexpected relationships. The film is in Basque with English subtitles and available for rent on Amazon Prime. Click here for the movie’s direct website.

RENT IT HERE