Bertsolaritza is the art of singing extemporary composed songs in the Basque language--Euskara--according to various melodies and rhyming patterns. Bertsos can be composed at a variety of occasions but generally either by a solo bertsolari, in company between more than one bertsolari amongst friends or at a competition. Such a sung piece of composition is called a bertso, the person who sings it is called a bertsolari and the art of composing bertsos is called bertsolaritza.

Click on this link below to read this special English issue on Bertsolaritza
	Basque Special Issue Oral Tradition Volume 22, Number 2
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Related Links: "Shooting From the Lip:" NABO's Bertsolari Book Bertsozale website Oral Tradition Special Basque Issue Bertsolari - Wikipedia Bertsolari Aldizkaria Bertsulari.com Bertsoa.com Video clip:  Bertsolaritza from Batekmila (requires Flash player)