Nova Cançó facts for kids
The Nova Cançó (pronounced "NOH-vah kan-SOH") means "The New Song" in English. It was a special music movement in Catalonia during a time when Spain was ruled by a dictator named Francisco Franco. This movement helped bring Catalan music back into the spotlight.
The main goals of Nova Cançó were to make the Catalan language normal again in popular songs. It also spoke out against the unfair things happening in Spain under Franco's rule. At the same time, another group called the Grup de Folk also started making new Catalan music. They were inspired by popular songs from America and Britain.
Why Nova Cançó Started
The Nova Cançó movement began in the late 1950s. This was about 20 years after Francisco Franco took control of Spain. His government, called the Spanish State, had strict rules. They tried to stop people from using the Catalan language and enjoying Catalan culture.
But by the late 1950s, things in Spain started to change. Spain began to open up its economy. It also joined the United Nations, which meant the government needed to look better to other countries.
In the early 1960s, new cultural projects began in Catalonia. For example, a record company called Edigsa started in 1961. Also, a cultural group called Òmnium Cultural was founded. The first children's magazine in Catalan, Cavall Fort, was published. Slowly, the Catalan language, which had been banned in public after the Spanish Civil War, started to be used more openly.
In 1957, a writer named Josep Maria Espinàs gave talks about a French singer, Georges Brassens. Espinàs even started translating some of Brassens' songs into Catalan. By 1958, the first modern Catalan songs were recorded. Singers like Hermanos Serrano and José Guardiola released EPs (short albums) in Catalan. These early recordings helped set the stage for Nova Cançó.
The New Song Movement Begins
The Nova Cançó movement truly began in the late 1950s. A few people, including Jaume Armengol, Lluís Serrahima, and Miquel Porter, started writing songs in Catalan.
In 1959, Lluís Serrahima wrote an article called "We need songs for today." This article encouraged more writers and singers to join the movement. Miquel Porter, Josep Maria Espinàs, and Remei Margarit then formed a group called Els Setze Jutges (The Sixteen Judges).
Their first concert was in December 1961 in Barcelona. They performed under the name Els Setze Jutges for the first time in 1962. Over the next few years, more singers joined until there were sixteen members.
This group performed all over Catalonia. They wanted to fill the gap in popular Catalan music. They often performed in simple settings. Each of the four or five members on stage would take turns singing with their guitar. The others would sit behind them.
The first Nova Cançó records came out in 1962. Many music groups, singers, and songwriters started to follow this new trend.
In 1963, a professional Catalan singer named Salomé and a singer from Valencia named Raimon won a big award. They won first prize at the Fifth Mediterranean Song Festival with their song "Se’n va anar" (She left).
Even though there were rules and difficulties with TV, radio, and record companies, Nova Cançó became very popular. Many singers started to become professionals. The first members of Els Setze Jutges were amateurs. They left the group when younger singers began their careers. These new stars included Joan Manuel Serrat, Lluís Llach, Maria del Mar Bonet, Guillermina Motta, and Francesc Pi de la Serra.
At the same time, other types of Catalan music appeared. These were based on genres like folk. Bands like Grup de Folk and Esquirols became popular.
Other important artists in the movement were Guillem d'Efak and Núria Feliu. Some of these singers even became well-known outside of Spain.
As time went on, some singers started to use both Catalan and Spanish. Also, new ideas emerged that were different from the original goals of the movement.
Many former members of Els Setze Jutges continued to have successful careers. These included Raimon, Lluís Llach, Maria del Mar Bonet, Guillermina Motta, Francesc Pi de la Serra, and Joan Manuel Serrat. Other important figures, like Ovidi Montllor from Valencia, appeared a bit later.
The success of Nova Cançó inspired similar movements in other parts of Spain. These included Galicia, the Basque Country, and Castile.
See also
In Spanish: Nova Cançó para niños
