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The Bordonúas
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The "Bordonúa Antigua" mejorana2.gif (34662 bytes)  
The "Melodic Bordonúa" Sometime after the turn of the century, both the bordonúa and the tiple were replaced by the guitar in the Jíbaro Orchestra. Then, in some regions, the large instrument became adapted to hold five courses courses of light gauge metal strings. Originally strung as a deep-voiced bass instrument, the bordonúa got a new lease on life as a melody instrument and was heard throughout the twenties and thirties, played by the able hands of important bordonistas such as Candelario Vásquez, "Don Candó,"of Juncos and Eugenio "Yuyo" Velásquez of Aguas Buenas. They developed a distinctive way of playing a tremolo by squeezing or wiggling the strings over the large frets which became know as the "gemido" (moan) or "lloriqueo" (sobbing of the bordonúa. Yuyo Velasquez' son demonstrates his bordonúa
The bordonua of Candelario Vasquez being held by his son.

Follow the sequence of a bordonua being made here.

The "Bordonúa de Paquito López Cruz"

Elaine.tif (103276 bytes) Paquitobordo.jpg (27856 bytes)
The "Bordonúa Cundi/Avilés"   bordonua.jpg (145337 bytes)
The "Bordonúa Grave" Bordonua-de-Eugenio-Mendez.jpg (41338 bytes)  

 

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