Duende
Exploring the Magic

Duende: Exploring the Magic of Those in Whom the Spirit Dwells

For many, the term “leprechaun” can be very simple to understand. In Spanish, it has several meanings, however, for these to be translated into English and continue to preserve its concept is not so easy. When we talk about elves, we are not referring to those fantastic spirits that fill houses with mischief, those small creatures that are often the vapor of nightmares for many people…

Predominantly in Latin America, “Duende” is the name given to small mythological creatures with human attributes. Elves are the protagonists of many cultural traditions in various Latin American countries. In fact, in Mexico the so-called “Chaneques” which have both good and bad characteristics, are a very important part of folklore.

Duende is a term that, in another context, serves to refer to those special qualities that are immersed in people and art. However, it is also associated with something so negative that it can hardly be perceived as what we have just described. From now on, let’s consider “duende” as that emotion that emanates from us as a response to certain works of art.

In Spain “Duende” is associated with that intense emotion that emanates from the soul when we are faced with the most inspiring forms of art. To let yourself be carried away by the power of various artistic forms such as dance, experiencing the maximum power of beauty and dance, that is precisely what this article is about, to completely surrender to the duende.

It is clear that there is no simple way to express this in English. Goethe, who when talking about Paganini came up with a definition of what a goblin could be: “A mysterious force that everyone feels, and that no philosopher has been able to explain.” On the other hand, in his brilliant lecture entitled “Theory and Function of the Duende,” Federico García Lorca attempts to shed some light on the eerie and inexplicable sadness that lives at the heart of certain

works of art. “Everything that has a dark sound has duende,” he says, “that mysterious power that everyone feels but no philosopher can explain.”

They are the companions of the soul that lead it into exile, that save the overwhelming longing for that which is not of this world. Isn’t this a beautiful way to try to define it?

Flamenco fans often attribute music’s ability to convey emotions and feelings in a unique way. Music can change throughout a performance or song. These variants are called suits. Through the use of palos, it is said that flamenco expresses the passion and culture of an entire people.

“The duende, then, is a power, not a work. It is a struggle, not a thought. I have heard an old guitar master say: The duende is not in the throat; “the elf rises inside you, from the soles of your feet.”

― Federico García Lorca (1933)

Duende, by iVistaPoint

Is any song capable of expressing exactly what “Duende” means? iVistaPoint has managed to frame, within a 5-minute topic, the essence of what “Duende” means. The song, which in fact bears the same name, is a mix of melodies combined with poetic lyrics and, in whose video, varied artistic expressions are shown, from sensual dances to a direct look at musical artists.

This theme is the result of inspiration, an inspiration that is born from the painting “Duende” from 1995, by Ramón Lombarte, a contemporary artist born in Spain in 1956. A painting that perfectly portrays the definition of duende which we have been discussing throughout this article.

Ramón Lombarte “Duende” (1995)

Now that you know what “Duende” means beyond the traditional definition that is very far removed from this context, you can check out the homonymous song and let yourself be carried away by the wave of emotions that this song has for you. Listen to it by clicking here.