Silvio Rodríguez has just published Cancionero [Songbook], a book containing over 400 songs, 100 of which have been previously unpublished, as well as other pieces from his forthcoming album, Segunda cita [Second Date].

Aesthetically, the book pays homage to the slim songbooks once sold in bookstores and newspapers quiosks. It contains original drawings by the poet and it sums up four decades of songwriting, including all-time favorites which have become classics, for example, “Sueño con serpientes” [Dream of Serpents], “Pequeña serenata diurna” [Little Daytime Serenade], “Unicornio” [Unicorn], “Ojalá” [I Wish], “La maza” [The Mace], “Te doy una canción” [I Give You a Song], and others. This voluminous tome also provides an autobiographical dimension; it contains numerous photographs documenting different moments and events in the singer/songwriter’s life. Citing authors that were highly influential in his life— José Martí, Rubén Darío, Juan de Dios Peza, Nicolás Guillén, José Zacarías Tallet, Eliseo Diego, Rubén Martínez Villena, César Vallejo, and Saint-John Perse— Rodríguez highlights the importance of literature and poetry in his daily life and work.

Silvio Rodríguez was born in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba, in 1946. He is one of the main exponents of the nueva trova movement. He is well-known in Latin America as a poet, musician, singer, and composer.  His lyrics are highly eloquent, introspective, and symbolic, and his songs speak about life, love, social injustices, and political élan. “Art as defiance” is still the poet/musician’s basis for his work, says Jorge Boccanera in his article “Sueños y pesadillas de un trovador” [Dreams and Nightmares of a Troubadour].

For full article by Jorge Boccanera (in Spanish), see http://laventana.casa.cult.cu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4972

For photo and more information (in Spanish), see http://www.mdzol.com/mdz/nota/141385/

For more information on the nueva trova movement, see http://www.cubamusic.com/page/CUB/EN/nuevatrova.aspx