A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Tirana

by William Barclay Squire

TIRANA. An Andalusian dance of a very graceful description, danced to an extremely rhythmical air in 6-8 time. The words which accompany the music are written in 'coplas' or stanzas of four lines, without any 'estrevillo.' [See Seguidilla, vol. iii. p. 457a.] There are several of them in Preciso's 'Colleccion de Coplas,' etc. (Madrid, 1799), whence the following example is derived:

Tú eres mi primer amor,
Tú me enseñaste á querer
No me enseñes á olvidar,
Que no lo quiero aprender.^[1]

Tiranas are generally danced and sung to a guitar accompaniment. The music of one ('Si la mar fuera de tinta') will be found in 'Arias y Canciones Nacionales Espaiioles' (London, Lonsdale, 1871).

[ W. B. S. ]

1. Translation:—Thou art my first love. Thou taughtest me to love, Teach me not to forget, For I do not wish to learn it.