De camino a una exaltacion de la saeta (un cante espontaneo de Semana Santa) que organizó la Peña Flamenca El Nitri, nos encontramos con este traslado de la imagen del Cristo acompañado de sus cofrades ya preparándose para la Semana Santa que está a la vuelta de la esquina.

On our walk up to the Peña Flamenca El Nitri, which was presenting a program dedicated to the “saeta” (a spontaneous, flamenco-based, Holy Week song), we came across this “transfer” of the Christ image from a nearby church, as their brotherhood was preparing for their annual Holy Week procession.

El Presidente de la Peña, Bartolomé Brao dio la bienvenida a los socios y a las autoridades presentes y presentó al ponente Luis Suárez Ávila gran erudito de las tradiciones andaluzas.  Las hermanas Cala y el cantaor Paco López interpretaron varias saetas.  Las saetas son cantes que se realizan a palo seco (sin acompañamiento de guitarra) en Andalucía a los pasos de las procesiones en señal de fervor, plegaria o agradecimiento y su origen se remonta a varios siglos atrás.

The President of the Peña, Bartolomé Brao welcomed the members and the honored guests that were present.  Luis Suárez Ávila, an Andalusian traditions scholar, provided an interesting talk about the history of the saeta.  The Cala sisters and the cantaor (flamenco singer) Paco López sang various saetas, which are sung A capella (without any accompanying music) in Andalucía, usually during Holy Week processions.  They are flamenco-based acts of devotion, gratitude, or prayer, and have a history that goes back several centuries.

Aprendimos mucho sobre la saeta mientras disfrutamos de un buen Fino Pavón.

We learned a lot about the saeta while we enjoyed a tasty Fino Pavón.