Cantos Cautivos
Las mañanitas
- Music piece by:Manuel M. Ponce
- Testimony by:Beatriz Bataszew Contreras
- Experience in:Campamento de Prisioneros, Tres Álamos, December 1974 - May 1976
To every comrade who had a birthday, we would sing 'Las mañanitas' and we would give them presents. The majority of the female prisoners would come together and sing to you. I spent one birthday in prison. Birthdays were important for everyone because we were alive. Because you have a birthday when you’re alive.
Normally, we would sing when they locked us up in the barracks, from seven or eight at night until eight or nine in the morning.
Sometimes, the guards would come in but didn’t stay. It was our act.
Once, I met someone who lived a block away from Tres Álamos and said that she could hear us.
I didn’t experience it as someone who joins a choir, but as a space for encounters, dialogue and de-stressing, as a chance to say something that would be heard. For me it was never 'right, let’s go to the singing workshop'.
I see these stories as acts of dignity and integrity, as opposed to fragmented memories as an end to the story.
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Published on: 08 November 2016
that King David used to sing
today being your saint's day
we sing them to you.
Wake up my dear, wake up
see that the day has already dawned
the little birds are already singing
the moon has already set.
How lovely is this morning
when I come to greet you
we all come with joy
and pleasure to greet you.
The day on which you were born
all the flowers were born
and in the baptismal font
all the nightingales sang.
It is already dawning
the day has already given us light
rise this morning
see that it's already dawned.
Related testimonies:
- Ode to Joy (Himno a la alegría) Amelia Negrón, Campamento de Prisioneros, Tres Álamos, 31 December 1975
Preparations for that Wednesday night became more intense. It would be a different night. We women prisoners had secretly organised ourselves, but more importantly, we had also coordinated with the male prisoners.
- The Crux of the Matter (La madre del cordero) Servando Becerra Poblete, Campamento de Prisioneros Chacabuco, 9 November 1973 - 10 November 1974
I recited this poem in the National Stadium. I continued to do so in the Chacabuco prison camp, earning the nickname of “Venancio” from my fellow prisoners.
- The Crux of the Matter (La madre del cordero) Servando Becerra Poblete, Campamento de Prisioneros, Estadio Nacional, 9 November 1973 - 10 November 1974
I recited this poem in the National Stadium. I continued to do so in the Chacabuco prison camp, earning the nickname of “Venancio” from my fellow prisoners.
- Free (Libre) anónimo, Campamento de Prisioneros, Estadio Nacional, September - November 1973
While waiting in the grandstands to be interrogated for the first, second or more times, we would sing 'Free' to those who were being lined up to be released. 'Free' was a catharsis, a mixture of joy for those who were going and hope for those of us left behind.
- Free (Libre) Marianella Ubilla, Campamento Prisioneros Estadio Regional, Christmas 1973
I was taken prisoner on 23 November 1973, at the University of Concepción. In the Regional Stadium of Concepción, we had to sing the National Anthem every day.
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