Romancero gitano
by Federico García Lorca
Spanish • Public Domain • Free to stream
Romancero gitano (1928) is Federico García Lorca's most celebrated work — eighteen gypsy ballads that fuse traditional Spanish verse with surrealist imagery and the concept of "duende", that dark, earthly spirit that gives flamenco and poetry their raw power. The collection captures the persecution, passion, and dignity of Andalusia's gypsy people through verses of extraordinary musicality. Poems like "Romance Sonámbulo" ("Verde que te quiero verde") have become cornerstones of 20th-century literature. Stream in native Spanish with Elvira's voice.
About the book: Romancero gitano
The Romancero gitano is a poetry collection by Spanish writer Federico García Lorca. First published in 1928, it is composed of romances with subjects like the night, death, the sky, and the moon. All of the poems deal with the Romani people and their culture, but only as a theme used to carry the larger message that the poet was trying to convey.
The Romancero gitano was instantly popular and remains García Lorca's best known book of poetry. It was a highly stylised imitation of the ballads and poems that were still being told throughout the Spanish countryside. García Lorca himself described the work as a carved altar piece of Andalusia with gypsies, horses, archangels, planets, its Jewish and Roman breezes, rivers, crimes, the everyday touch of the smuggler and the celestial note of the naked children of Córdoba. A book that hardly expresses visible Andalusia at all, but where the hidden Andalusia trembles. The book brought him fame across Spain and the Hispanic world; it would only be much later in his life that he gained notability as a playwright.
For the rest of his life, the writer would search for the elements of Andalusian culture, trying to find its essence without resorting to the picturesque or the clichéd use of local colour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Romancero gitano free to listen to?
Yes, completely free. No account, no subscription, no ads. Public domain.
Who was Federico García Lorca?
Spanish poet and playwright (1898-1936), from Granada. His murder at the start of the Spanish Civil War made him a symbol of artistic freedom. Romancero gitano was his breakthrough work.
What is the most famous poem?
"Romance Sonámbulo" — famous for its opening line "Verde que te quiero verde" (Green how I want you green). One of the most quoted lines in the Spanish language.