por Who was Rafael de Leon?
Raphael de Leon (1908-1982) was a Spanish poet, member of the generation of ’27, who also stood out for writing the lyrics of couplets and songs that became very popular in Spain. He was the VIII Marquis of Valle de la Reina, VII Marquis of Moscoso and IX Count of Gómara.
His poetry was influenced by Federico García Lorca, with the characteristics of Gypsy romance. The poet was late in his verses, his first book was published in 1941, with the title Sorrow and joy of love.
In the field of coplas and songs, Rafael de León made several collaborations with artists. Singers of the stature of Lola Flores, Rocío Dúrcal, Raphael, Nino Bravo or Isabel Pantoja interpreted his songs. Many scholars consider him to have been a forgotten poet.
Biography of Rafael de Leon
birth and family
He was born on February 6, 1908 in Seville, into a family of the Spanish aristocracy. His parents were José de León y Manjón, landowner and VII Marquis of Valle de la Reina, and María Justa Arias de Saavedra, VI Marquise of Moscoso and VII Countess of Gómara.
Education
Rafael de León received a privileged education. In 1916, when he was eight years old, he began studying as a boarding student at the San Luis Gonzaga school, run by the Jesuits. There he met Rafael Alberti, later he studied at San Estanislao de Kostka, in Malaga.
After finishing high school, De León began studying law at the University of Granada. There he became friends with Federico García Lorca. After completing his studies, he returned to Seville, where he frequently attended gatherings in cafes and theaters.
First works as a lyricist
It was in that festive and cultural Sevillian atmosphere where he met the lyricist Antonio García Padilla, better known as Kola, father of the artist Carmen Sevilla. With him he wrote several songs. In addition, at that time, 1926, De León wrote his first song, which he called «El saca y mete».
Two years later, the singer Custodia Romero premiered a song composed by him, called «Manolo Reyes».. The following year he entered the military service, and during that period he wrote some lyrics for the interpreter Estrellita Castro, and he met the singer Conchita Piquer.
Madrid and Barcelona
De León moved to Madrid in 1932, motivated by Manuel Quiroga, a Sevillian musician. There she began working with him at his academy. Besides, the writer frequented the various artistic and cultural points of the Spanish capital. The following year he traveled to Barcelona to direct a new music teaching institute.
In 1933 the film was released on Andalusian patio, whose songs were written by De León. Two years later, the musical comedy written by Rafael de León, called Mary of the O, in collaboration with Salvador Valverde and musicalized by his friend Quiroga.
Civil war
In 1936 his musical piece, Mary of the Or, he arrived in Madrid and performed at the Alcázar theater. That same year she launched the show gypsy grief, with the help of Manuel Quiroga and the poet Valverde. When the civil war broke out, Rafael was in Barcelona.
The poet was arrested and taken to the Modelo jail, two causes of his capture were known. The first was due to his relationship with the nobility, and the second, due to a complaint made by the actor Juan Andreu, who alleged that De León was part of the Spanish phalanx.
grief and release
After two years in prison, in 1938, the War Council sentenced him to death. Added to this grief was the death of his brother Pedro, during the battle of the Ebro. Rafael de León dedicated «Hero» to Pedro, a poem included in his book Sorrow and joy of love.
Later, in 1939, the national army entered Barcelona and was released, as if by providence. The following year he joined the creative and artistic life, and his letters were present in the feature film The Dolores, premiered in Madrid, at the Avenida cinema.
Postwar period
As of 1940, Spain was limited by the Franco regime, little or nothing entered the country at a cultural level. However, Spanish folklore boomed and became popular among the inhabitants, although it later declined.
In this cultural and political context, De León continued to create and write his poems and couplets. In 1941 his first collection of poems came to light, Sorrow and joy of love, he also had a wide participation in the cinema through the lyrics of his songs.
Years of constant creation
The following years were of constant creation for De León. Year after year, he put himself on stage or took to the cinema a work where his participation as a lyricist was present. And that’s how shows like Ride, and movies like The white dove
In 1943 his father died. But he also published his second book, paper garden, He also staged the presentations spanish altarpiece and, in 1944, zambra and Zambra. The poet’s collaborations were innumerable for more than ten years.
Shows, movies and festivals
He always remained active in terms of artistic life. In 1952 he composed the lyrics for the shows the port of love and adventures of love, with the collaboration of Manuel Quiroga. That year his mother died, and he inherited the titles Marquis of Moscoso and Count of Gómara.
In the following years he wrote Couplet and sigh, The patio of the stars, Bridge of couplets and Carousel of Spain. In 1958, his book came to light in Montevideo, Uruguay. Dark love romance. Also, for that time, he participated in several song festivals, winning some prizes.
Last years and death
De León’s last years were full of intense work as a composer and creator of shows, and as a lyricist in several films. In 1970, at the Teatro Nuevo Cómico in Madrid, it premiered Do not love me so much, and in 1975 Isabel Pantoja starred in Garlochi, with songs written by him.
Two years later, under the alias of Abraham Vilor, he composed the comedy candles, premiered on October 8 at the Teatro Principal in Valencia.
Rafael de León died on December 22, 1982, in Madrid, after suffering a myocardial infarction.
Style
The literary style of Rafael de León, in terms of his poetry, maintained the popular character, with a simple language, which included the Andalusian wit. Hence the influence of Federico García Lorca in terms of gypsy romances.
The lyrics of his couplets were also poetry, on many occasions he resorted to terms or words that were not part of the Spanish language. The most frequent themes were traditions, love, joy, parties and sometimes sadness.
Verses and meter
Rafael de León put into practice in some of his stanzas the use of eight-syllable verses from romances. However, the seguidillas, coplas and redondillas were abundant. In addition, his rhyme was loud, and in some cases white.
Plays
Poetry
sorrow and joy of love (1941).
paper garden (1943).
dark love romance (1958).
collaborations
Manolo Reyes (1928). Song with music by Manuel Quiroga.
Mary of the O (1931). It was a song with the collaboration of Salvador Valverde and Manuel Quiroga, in that same year the film based on that letter was released. In 1935 the comic play, written by De León, premiered.
gypsy grief (1936). Show made with the collaboration of Manuel Quiroga and Salvador Valverde.
The Dolores (1940). Spanish film, with songs written by Rafael de León.
Horseback Riding: Spanish Songs and Dances by Mari Paz (1942). Show created by De León, with music by Manuel Quiroga.
hearth of spain and spanish altarpiece (1943). Show with music by Quiroga, and collaboration by Antonio Quintero.
Zambra 1946, Bronze and gold, Songs, Bulería, Romería 1946 and fair proclamation (1946). Shows developed together with Antonio Quintero, with music by Manuel Quiroga.
María Antonia Fernández La Caramba, A Cuban in Spain and Third of Quites (1951). Movies whose songs he wrote in collaboration with Antonio Quintero and Manuel Quiroga.
The beauty of Cádiz and the singer (1964). Shows with the collaborations of Manuel Quiroga and Andrés Molina-Moles.
garlochi (1975). It was an event starring the Spanish singer Isabel Pantoja, and that Rafael de León performed together with the musicalization of maestro Juan Solano.
The lyrics he wrote together with Antonio García alias Kola also stood out, such as: Songs, Arturo, Cinelandia, Sound Film, The Desired, Always Seville. Rafael de León’s work in the world of lyrics and songs was innumerable.
References
Raphael de Leon. Retrieved from es.wikipedia.org.
Life and work of Rafael de León. Recovered from erredeele.blogspot.com.
Raphael de Leon. Recovered from españaescultura.es.
Rafael de Leon and Arias Saavedra. Recovered from ecured.cu.
Rafael de Leon Arias de Saavedra. Recovered from dbe.rah.es.