Biography
María Isabel Granda Larco was born on 3 September 1920, in a copper mining area in the region of Apurímac. She began singing at 12 years old, in the school choir at the exclusive girl's school Colegio Sophianum, in San Isidro. At this age she sang as a soprano (an operation later gave her the deep voice for which she is remembered). However, she wasn't well known until after her divorce, a scandal in contemporary Lima's conservative Catholic society.
Early in her career her work was expressive and picturesque – evoking the romantic and beautiful neighborhood of Barranco in Lima, with its grand French houses with impressive entrances and winter gardens. Some of her most famous songs from this period are "Lima de Veras", "La flor de la Canela", "Fina Estampa", "Gracia", "José Antonio", and "Zeñó Manué", to name a few. She broke the conventional rhythmic structure of the waltz, later broke convention with her poetic cadences as well. Later in her career she wrote songs dedicated to the Chilean Violeta Parra and to Javier Heraud, a Peruvian poet who died in 1968.
Towards the end of her career, Chabuca Granda incorporated Afro-Peruvian rhythms into her work. Afro-Peruvian music, while popular, was not considered "high art" due to the prevalent racism and devaluation of Afro-Peruvian culture. She masterfully blended the suggestive and colorful rhythms into her work, enriching Peruvian popular music.
She died of heart problems in a clinic in Miami, in the United States, in 1983. Her voice and compositions are known far from the borders of her country, and her popularity has introduced the world to the fine and sensitive character of Peruvian music.
Chabuca Granda continued to make her presence felt a decade after her death, when Caetano Veloso used her song, "Fina Estampa", as the title track of an album released in 1994, while her song, "Maria Lando", written with Cesar Calvo, provided the North American breakthrough for Peruvian vocalist Susana Baca the following year.
Granda's song "La Flor De La Canela" has become an anthem for the city of Lima. Granda worked with a lengthy list of influential guitarists including Oscar Aviles, Martin Torres, Lucho Gonzalez, Alvaro Lagos, and Felix Casaverde.
El Puente de los Suspiros
Chabuca Granda Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Puentecito tendido sobre la herida de una quebrada,
Retoña en pensamientos tus maderos,
se aferra el corazón a tu balaustres
Puentecito dormido y entre el murmullo de la querencia,
abrazado al recuerdo... barranco y escalinatas.
Puente de los suspiros... quiero que guardes,
en tu grato silencio mi confidencia.
Es mi puente un poeta que me espera...
Con su quieta madera cada tarde,
y suspira y suspiro... me recibe y le dejo,
solo sobre su herida, su quebrada...
y las viejas consejas van contando,
de la injusta distancia del amante.
Sus arrestos vencidos, vencidos por los Ficus
de enterradas raíces en su amada.
Puentecito dormido y entre el murmullo de la querencia,
abrazado al recuerdo... barranco y escalinatas.
Puente de los suspiros... quiero que guardes,
en tu grato silencio mi confidencia.
The song El Puente de los Suspiros by Chabuca Granda is a poetic representation of a bridge in Lima, Peru that holds a significant emotional attachment for the composer. The opening verse speaks of the bridge being hidden amongst foliage and nostalgia, describing it as a peaceful spot that can be used as a place of reflection, where one can hold on to memories and seek comfort in its sturdy structure. The poet compares the bridge to a person, describing the wooden structure as having arms that wrap around you and a heart that beats, creating a sense of security and love.
The second verse speaks about the bridge as a place to meet a poet who waits patiently every day for his loved one to arrive. The structure creates a sense of longing and hope, where two people in love can share a moment and exchange their thoughts and feelings. The poetic imagery describes a scene where the poet and his lover unite to share their hearts and memories, where the bridge bears witness to their emotions.
Overall, the song speaks to the power of a place and its ability to evoke and hold memories, both joyful and painful, creating a space where one can feel a sense of comfort and solace.
Line by Line Meaning
Puentecito escondido entre follajes y entre añoranzas,
This bridge is hidden among the greenery of the landscape, accompanied by longing and nostalgia.
Puentecito tendido sobre la herida de una quebrada,
The bridge is built over a stream that represents a wound.
Retoña en pensamientos tus maderos,
The memories of the bridge's structure flourish in thoughts.
se aferra el corazón a tu balaustres
The heart holds onto the bridge's railings tightly.
Puentecito dormido y entre el murmullo de la querencia,
The bridge is quiet, surrounded by whispers of love and longing.
abrazado al recuerdo... barranco y escalinatas.
It embraces the memory of the surroundings; the hills and steps.
Puente de los suspiros... quiero que guardes,
Bridge of sighs, I want you to keep safe,
en tu grato silencio mi confidencia.
the secrets I trust you with, in your pleasant silence.
Es mi puente un poeta que me espera...
For me, the bridge is like a poet, waiting and watching.
Con su quieta madera cada tarde,
Every evening its calm wooden structure finds peace.
y suspira y suspiro... me recibe y le dejo,
It and I both sigh; I visit and depart from the bridge.
solo sobre su herida, su quebrada...
It is left alone with its wound, the stream it covers.
y las viejas consejas van contando,
The old stories are told over and over.
de la injusta distancia del amante.
Of the unfair distance between lovers.
Sus arrestos vencidos, vencidos por los Ficus
Its struggles defeated by the power of the Ficus trees around it.
de enterradas raíces en su amada.
Roots firmly planted in the bridge's beloved surroundings.
Writer(s): Chabuca Granda, Isabel Granda Y. Larco
Contributed by Blake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@fredericmoral6076
Alvaro Lagos, MAGISTRAL con la guitarra!
Tuve el honor de tomar clases de guitarra con él y me comentó que su mejor trabajo fue precisamente en este tema,, “Puente de los suspiros”.
Me parece que en este video tenía alrededor de 17 años. Un talento digno de admiración.
Fue un grupo excelente. La genialidad y encanto de Doña Chabuca Granda en compañía de grandes músicos.
“Caitro” Soto en el cajón, el guapeo, coros.
“Pititi” con su talento y gracia desbordantes para la percusión y el baile.
Pasarán muchos años para volver a ver una agrupación así.
La magia de lo que vemos aquí es porque en todos los presentes existió talento, carisma y - lo más importante- calidad como personas.
Qué hermosa es la música peruana! 🇵🇪🎼💪🏽
@benjamindominguezmercado3848
Soy de la Ciudad de México, y le agradezco profundamente a mi madre haberme criado con la música y la poesía de Chabuquita amada: Mamá Isabel por siempre¡¡¡¡¡¡
@carevalo1000
Soy chileno y vivo hace 18 años en Barranco, tengo dos hijitas peruanas y les enseño día a día de la riqueza poética de éste bello distrito. Chabuca , que gran autora e interprete en cada una de sus letras demuestra el amor por éste Barranco hermoso
@chiofibe6823
carlos arevalo que bonito....enseñale el amor a su patria y el orgullo que sentimos de ser peruanos....y de su amada Chile tambien...un saludo....y bendiciones
@horustierra1406
No lo c Rick parece falso xd
@vascocadavez9956
onde teus antepassados saquearam roubaram e mataram... vai para teu pais, odioso
@ivargasper
Me quito el sombrero ante usted señor por la riqueza músical que le enseña a sus hijas y por el cariño q mi país, lamentablemente a muchos de mis compatriotas andamos embelazados por la música actual que no valoramos esta música y el legado de nuestra gran Chabuca Granda.
@poloronaldpenarodriguez4661
Yo igual. .valoro a Chabuca
@enriqueluismunozvelez8925
Soy de Cartagena Colombia, amo a esa dama, su porte, belleza, elegancia, señora de talladura universal, me embriago con las emociones que despiertas en mi ser, nunca morirás, eres inmorible
@juanpabur
jajajajajajajajaja.. Inmorible: que no se puede morir. jajaja
@tiberioagripa
Gracias por devolvernos la visita musical que muchos peruanos hacemos a Colombia. No haga caso a uno que otro chileno que desmerece a su gran país. Saludos