This year marks the centenary of the death of Joan Alcover i Maspons, a towering figure in Catalan literature, whose complete works are now being re-released by Nova Editorial Moll. The enduring legacy of the Palma-born poet, who died in 1926, continues to resonate, with his ideas remaining highly relevant today.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Maria Antònia Perelló, Alcover’s biographer and the curator of the new complete works, emphasises the deeply human nature of his poetry. She stated, “The poetry of Joan Alcover is very human. It speaks of man, of his land and of his people.” Perelló, who also coordinates the centenary commemoration, has meticulously studied Alcover’s work, describing his verses with passion. His work, divided into two volumes covering prose and poetry, aims to bring “a ray of consoling light” to people, a principle he believed poetry should serve.
Alcover, born in Palma in 1854, received a Castilian-speaking education, reflecting the era. He developed his literary passion at the Balearic Institute, influenced by teachers like Josep Lluís Pons i Gallarza. Alcover later organised literary gatherings at his home from 1895, fostering a nascent cultural scene. Perelló noted, “Mallorca in 1870 and the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century was a literary desert and a cultural desert.” This period saw figures like Pons i Gallarza and Josep Maria Quadrado, followed by Alcover’s generation, including Miquel Costa i Llobera and Alexandre Rosselló, driving cultural development.
Early Poetic Struggles
Alcover initially struggled to find his authentic poetic voice, experiencing what he termed “linguistic bigamy” between Castilian and Catalan. He favoured Castilian in his youth, producing what Perelló described as “artificial and empty poetry.” Perelló explained, “During the first years, he wavered for a time between the Castilian and the Catalan muse.” He attempted to emulate prominent poets of the time, such as Campoamor and Bécquer, but this work did not emerge from his “innermost self.” Josep Maria Llompart even satirised Alcover’s early efforts, suggesting he aimed to be a provincial poet signing ladies’ fans.
Tragedy and Transformation
A series of profound personal tragedies marked a brutal turning point in Alcover’s life and artistic direction. His wife, Rosa Pujol, died in 1887, just seven years after their marriage. He then lost his daughter Teresa in 1901, followed by his son Pere in 1905. This period of immense grief coincided with a significant personal and artistic crisis, leading him to abandon Castilian entirely. Perelló stated, “It is a brutal turning point that determines his definitive evolution. There is a change of voice, a process of sincerity that brings him closer to his deepest and most intimate self.” She added, “He finds his own voice. He opts for the muse of sentiment.” This shift led to his seminal works, Cap al tard (Towards Evening) and Poemes bíblics i proverbis (Biblical Poems and Proverbs). These works reflected a transition from Romanticism towards Modernism, incorporating impressionistic nature observations and popular forms.
“La Balanguera” and National Identity
The poem “La Balanguera” became the first clear manifestation of Alcover’s new voice and language, eventually serving as the anthem of Mallorca. He first recited it in 1903 at Palma’s Grand Hotel to an audience of a hundred guests. Despite positive reception from contemporaries like Miquel dels Sants Oliver and Gabriel Alomar, Alcover initially doubted its quality. Perelló explained, “This means he was not yet sure of this new muse.” ‘La Balanguera’ draws inspiration from a popular folk song, symbolising a Mallorcan peasant woman weaving the threads of life and human destiny. The poem reflects on the fleeting nature of individual life against the permanence of collective existence. Perelló noted, “Every individual is condemned to die,” but the figure also embodies ancestral wisdom and tradition. This connection to ‘patria’ or homeland forms another crucial element of Alcover’s work. Perelló elaborated, “From ‘La Balanguera’ a whole vision of homeland is born, which is very simple. For him, the homeland is intimately linked to the daily life of the people.”
Enduring Relevance and Legacy
In 1909, the same year he was declared Mestre en Gay Saber at the Jocs Florals, Cap al tard solidified Alcover’s reputation. This collection showcased impressionistic nature observations, popular forms, and an art rooted in sincerity, aligning with his essay “Humanisation of Art.” His “Cançons de la serra” (Songs of the Mountain Range), which opens with “La Balanguera,” blend landscape sentiment with civic feeling. Alcover believed that cultural progress required preserving tradition, a message still relevant today. He famously stated, “Without the past, the concern for the future is sterile, absurd, and presumptuous.” Perelló highlighted Alcover’s exhortation to the people of Mallorca: “If they wanted to be universal and succeed outside Mallorca, they should be Mallorcan.” He urged them to preserve their unique personality, believing that “only peoples who have a living and awakened conscience… go forward and grow.” Alcover’s elegies, particularly in Cap al tard, offer a cathartic expression of his grief over his losses. Joan Maragall compared Alcover’s elegies to a Dante Alighieri altarpiece, praising their raw emotional power. Maragall told Alcover, “Only what has made us tremble, makes others tremble. Everything lies in converting it into redemptive art.” Alcover’s later work, Poemes bíblics i proverbis, explored human virtues and vices amidst the First World War, positioning him as a defender of peace. His profound humanity and timeless themes ensure Joan Alcover’s poetry remains as poignant and relevant as ever, a century after his passing.
Come and join our Barcelona English Speakers community on WhatsApp.
Originally published by VilaWeb Feed. Read original article.
