the topic of Duende
movingfinger
Posts: 117
Duende
The duende—where is the duende? Through the empty arch comes an air of the mind that blows insistently over the heads of the dead, in search of the new landscapes and unsuspected accents; an air smelling of child’s saliva, of pounded grass, and medusal veil announcing the constant baptism of newly created things
—Robert Bly
Duende is a difficult word to define, it has only just started to be used in the English language and the dictionary definitions vary. The New Oxford English Dictionary defines duende as “1. A ghost an Evil Spirit;” or “2. Inspiration, magic, fire.” The Random House Dictionary defines it as, “Charm, magnetism.” All of these definitions are vague, though, and do not come to grips with the true meaning of the word as it is used in the world of art. Therefore, it may be pertinent to examine the roots of the word.
The word duende comes from Andalusia (a section of southern Spain) folklore. It is fabled that a goblin-like creature named El Duende made a deep sound that chilled its victims before killing them. Thus the word duende was used to refer to this sound. However, the word duende has taken on another meaning in Spanish culture. It is now commonly used to describe the deep inner sounds and emotions that emerge when death is imminent. The word death is used in another context in Spanish culture, though; it is associated with a flight from this world, both real and poetic.
When a poem or song—or any form of art for that matter—takes you away to a different place, it is said that it is the duende carrying you. Duende is often said to be the main allure of bullfighting. The possibility of death stirs emotions inside of people, this emotion is said to be duende. The presence or prospect of death creates intensity inside people, it quickens the pace, electrifies the air. The bullfighter dodges death at every charge; the bull grows closer at every slice of the sword. When the audience connects to the art of the bullfighter they feel the duende inside of themselves.
For duende to exist there must be a provider and an interpreter. This is why duende is most often associated with live music, dance or spoken poetry. When the artist conjures images of death, people must be present to feel the duende. Duende is different for everybody; this is why it is so difficult to define. A single person in the audience may feel the duende while everyone else remains unmoved; it is an individualistic experience and everyone is said to have different levels of duende inside them. Duende exists in the deepest part of the soul; for some people it is more easily accessed than others. When listening to music I sometimes feel connected to a song, in tune with it one might say. I am taken away to a different place for its duration, often forgetting about what is happening around me. This is duende. I am sure that everybody has had a similar experience to this, not knowing exactly what it was. Now the next time you feel your soul stirring in response to a work of art you will know that it is the duende growing inside of you.
The duende—where is the duende? Through the empty arch comes an air of the mind that blows insistently over the heads of the dead, in search of the new landscapes and unsuspected accents; an air smelling of child’s saliva, of pounded grass, and medusal veil announcing the constant baptism of newly created things
—Robert Bly
Duende is a difficult word to define, it has only just started to be used in the English language and the dictionary definitions vary. The New Oxford English Dictionary defines duende as “1. A ghost an Evil Spirit;” or “2. Inspiration, magic, fire.” The Random House Dictionary defines it as, “Charm, magnetism.” All of these definitions are vague, though, and do not come to grips with the true meaning of the word as it is used in the world of art. Therefore, it may be pertinent to examine the roots of the word.
The word duende comes from Andalusia (a section of southern Spain) folklore. It is fabled that a goblin-like creature named El Duende made a deep sound that chilled its victims before killing them. Thus the word duende was used to refer to this sound. However, the word duende has taken on another meaning in Spanish culture. It is now commonly used to describe the deep inner sounds and emotions that emerge when death is imminent. The word death is used in another context in Spanish culture, though; it is associated with a flight from this world, both real and poetic.
When a poem or song—or any form of art for that matter—takes you away to a different place, it is said that it is the duende carrying you. Duende is often said to be the main allure of bullfighting. The possibility of death stirs emotions inside of people, this emotion is said to be duende. The presence or prospect of death creates intensity inside people, it quickens the pace, electrifies the air. The bullfighter dodges death at every charge; the bull grows closer at every slice of the sword. When the audience connects to the art of the bullfighter they feel the duende inside of themselves.
For duende to exist there must be a provider and an interpreter. This is why duende is most often associated with live music, dance or spoken poetry. When the artist conjures images of death, people must be present to feel the duende. Duende is different for everybody; this is why it is so difficult to define. A single person in the audience may feel the duende while everyone else remains unmoved; it is an individualistic experience and everyone is said to have different levels of duende inside them. Duende exists in the deepest part of the soul; for some people it is more easily accessed than others. When listening to music I sometimes feel connected to a song, in tune with it one might say. I am taken away to a different place for its duration, often forgetting about what is happening around me. This is duende. I am sure that everybody has had a similar experience to this, not knowing exactly what it was. Now the next time you feel your soul stirring in response to a work of art you will know that it is the duende growing inside of you.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it
-- Omar Khayyam
The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it
-- Omar Khayyam
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
which had moved me so, as indeed the whole book had.....that night we went out to the nearby pub, and an inquisitive medical student was with us......he asked us all whether we went to bed each night planning what we were going to wear the next day.....(I wore garish outfits.....totally planned the night before).....I think it was a personal study of his, to see whether we had enthusiasm for life......this girl was a depressive......that night she committed suicide......I felt very deeply for her death, and even got paranoid that the nurses had killed her......there are a lot of deaths on psychiatric wards which really need to be monitored.....Dr Rosen our Consultant guru held a special group the next day, and I had written a poem for her, which I read, I was also so affected that I kept a memento (an hour glass).....which I promised always to look at in memory of her.....(I let it go years ago).......is this duende......is that poem translated by Edward Fitzgerald an example of something that leads to suicide......am I feeling duende when I think of the passengers in King's Cross who were left to be eaten by rats because the tunnel was not safe enough for their rescue......am I feeling duende? (good thread!!!!)
(am I feeling duende when I think they should run an advertisement with normal people walking around doing their daily things.....and somehow that they are dead people 'walking tombstones' as I heard about me on one of my trips from reality......in Camberwell.....walking tombstones......oh, I know it's not true about me anymore, but somehow I worry about these innocents who are dying all over the world.....these innocents who are poor or uneducated.....who are at the mercy of a cruel world.....I wish we had some kind of justice and equity for all......and peace......I worry about the 'walking tombstones'......)