I often wonder how we would enjoy the singer from Santiago today. He would have turned 80 these first days of April, and I'm sure his lived wisdom would have reached the peak of that cantaor quality he so often referred to.
At the sad moment of his death I dedicated a column to him that was titled A goodbye according to Santiago I'd like to remind you of a few passages. Honestly, I have no better way to honor him or describe him as I knew him:
For several years I had a close relationship with Fernando "el de la Morena" (the one with the dark hair), through thick and thin, as they say. Above all, he was a unique character with his own unique language, so full of metaphors that he made you think for a long time, or even days. Like the time when I asked him about the current state of affairs. cante and he told me «the neighborhood of pellizco It is under construction and it is not due to a lack of materials., To cite just one example, Fernando was a person who made you enjoy himself because he radiated that daily practice of contentment.
Then there was –or before, who knows– a singer who faithfully guarded the essences of Santiago, both in his repertoire and in his speech, making flag of the cante spoken and graceful. Perhaps this circumstance was favored by leaving the profession very late after working as a taxi driver or as a delivery driver. industrial bakery products and their derivatives, as he used to say when referring to his journey in Bimbo.
"Fernando belonged to the so-called natural school of cante. That which is learned from mouth to ear, from heart to heart, in what were the rituals of his ilk, whether in the countryside or in the courtyard of his house on Cantarería Street. cante as a backbone of life"
As an interpreter we must not forget that Fernando belonged to the so-called natural school of the cante. That which is learned from mouth to ear, from heart to heart, in what were the rituals of his ilk, whether in the countryside or in the courtyard of his house on Cantarería Street. cante as a backbone of life, that is. What's more, if we analyze it calmly, I think that Fernando "the eldest of the Morena" It was much more than bulería; to all of its cantes added a lot of personality with those woe little ones who seasoned the thirds of their fandangos or their soleá.
Only time will tell the depth of its mark on the cante. However, I'm convinced there's a little stamp—"even if it's from the post office, nephew"—that we'll have to acknowledge one day. In any case, Fernando, the everyday philosopher in rhythm, has left a very fond memory in all the fans and friends who have had the good fortune to know and interact with him. And as his uncle wrote to him: Antonio Gallardo:
Light and voice and color… The sun premieres
bulerías and tientos that hurt
when he sings "Fernando de la Morena"
As a sound appendix: podcast of Expoflamenco
However, the cante doesn't fit on paper, as the wise man said, I suggest you listen to a recital by Fernando de la Morena. The live sound was captured at the 40th edition of the Lebrijana Snail held on July 16, 2005 (photo of the unforgettable Rafael Barrios placeholder image).
From that summer date in Lebrija I propose to enjoy the soleá as a sound welcome to give way to the supreme originality of the singer from Jerez in the cante by fandangos. And of course, a long passage from his cante por bulería with which he identified himself so propitiously. He accompanies him in all these cantes his namesake Fernando Moreno.
