The UV presents, today Tuesday 29, in the Aula Magna at “La Nau”, the documentary “Pep Gimeno, Bitifarra, el cant dels arrels” (The Song of the Roots), which has been produced by Tv3 and Optim TV, with the collaboration of the University.
It is a television documentary, directed by Alberto Monton and produced by Tv3 and Optim TV, with the collaboration of the Audiovisuals Workshop of the UV. The documentary makes a journey through Pep Gimeno’s career, a singer from Xativa (La Costera), who during the 80s recorded traditional songs of the central regions of the Valencian Community, performed by the last traditional singers who did not find any heir to continue a tradition condemned to extinction. The posterior success by “Botifarrra” has allowed new generations to sing those forgotten songs in the same manner they usually sing the commercial music through the media.
“Botifarra” is the protagonist and the main thread of the documentary. He was born in Xativa in 1960, was the son of farmers and linked to the land and to his people. He started singing in1975-during the politic transition- in the streets of the city, encouraged by his grandmother Otilia. He has a special charisma and a voice which transmits the deepest Valencian roots to the public. He works at the maintenance service of the City Council from Xativa. With characteristics to “the antique” (he has neither phone nor driving lessons, also he has a little farm and a small piece of land in Xativa), but he still has a very modern way of thinking about the territory and its traditions.
A miracle is produced with him when one day, around 2006, a former friend of his family encourage him to record a solo disc and appear on the stages with songs compiled 20 years before. That very moment is when a never seen before charisma is revealed, a very deep voice and an a spectacle that recalls the deepest roots. All that causes the audience to answer as they might never answered before with an artist born in Valencian territory. Today's young generations will end knowing and singing thetraditional songs that their grandparents would sing when they were young.
The presentation of the documentary will take place in the Aula Magna, at the Cultural Centre “La Nau” of the UV (De la Universidad, 2, Street) on Tuesday 29 April at 19:30. In case of overfilling, all the classrooms of the building could also be accessed. The following day, on 30 April, at 20:00, the documentary will be presented at the conferences hall of the Cultural Centre from Xativa.
Last update: 29 de april de 2014 07:00.
News release
