AMORPHINES: CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES AND 50 EXAMPLES - ART

The amorfinos are a popular creation in song and short poetic composition, the content mix romance with the humorous, thus differentiating the couplet. They are originally from the Montubio people, located in a region of Ecuador, whose origin comes from the miscegenation between blacks, whites and indigenous people.

Amorphine becomes an inheritance of the Spanish copla. Its transmission is mostly oral and improvisation plays a very important role in its creation. Although they originated in Ecuador, they spread to the regions of Peru, Chile and even Argentina, although today it has fallen into oblivion in those areas.

The traditional amorphous was accompanied by a predecessor to the guitar, the vihuela, and a leather drum. A traditional courtship dance accompanies it, where a kind of counterpoint is performed in a courtship ritual.

characteristics

Popular origin

The amorphous are characterized because their roots are framed in the popular traditions of the Montubio people of Ecuador.

As mentioned above, this town reflects in its inhabitants the miscegenation that took place in colonial times. This made the traditions that were generated full of very varied manifestations.

The amorphous ones are a reflection of this, given that in their structure it is possible to show very clearly the Spanish heritage of the copla, originally from that European country.

They talk about love

One of the recurring themes of amorphines is love. In many cases these songs are used by the Montubios to woo each other, to declare feelings or to pay homage to love, especially the romantic type.

They use humor and double meanings

The amorfinos do not focus only on love and romantic feelings, they are also characterized by representing the mischief of the Manabí people, either when wooing their wives or conversing in a humorous way with a partner.

Likewise, there are many amorphous who focus on humor, generating a witty and joking structure, sometimes even a bit mocking.

In most cases, amorphous ones seek to reflect everyday realities or aspects close to the community, and many times these are framed in a humorous tone.

Oral tradition

This Ecuadorian custom was characterized from its beginnings by being transmitted mainly orally. This route of transmission has been so effective that this tradition has spread to several Latin American countries.

As we mentioned before, the region near Ecuador was influenced by this genre, in such a way that expressions of this type can be found in Peru, Argentina and Chile.

Accompanied with dance

With the passing of time, the execution of the amorphous evolved and a dance performance was integrated into them.

This traditional dance also has a marked Spanish influence; in this the couples dance freely, happily and awake. The main objective of the dance is to reflect in an artistic way the courtship of the man towards the woman.

Types

Romantics

As has been seen, amorphines in general are romantic in nature. The vast majority of these expressions are focused on making known a feeling of love towards another person.

It could be said that it is a tool through which those who sing the amorphians have the opportunity to declare their love and feelings to whoever they consider.

Therefore, it is very common to find amorphians who talk about falling in love, giving to the loved one, and even about lack of love or unrequited love.

About nature

An important part of the amorphines is also focused on nature. As this tradition is an original custom in the rural areas of the Ecuadorian coast, this region is presented as the perfect setting to admire nature.

In addition, the representatives of this tradition used to be field workers, so their main work was directly linked to nature; For this reason it is not surprising that the natural has become an essential part of their daily lives and that it has been reflected in their cultural and artistic expressions.

References to the moon, the sun, the stars, the crops or the sea, among other elements, are easily identifiable in the amorphous.

Rogues

Another type of amorphous corresponds to those that focus on mischief, double meanings and humor.

Many amorphians talk about extramarital relationships, carnal desires towards women, superiority of one gentleman over another, suspicion of the romantic interests of a man towards a lady, and many other related topics, which are always developed with a humorous and humorous tone, with air mischief.

Philosophy of the field

The amorphous are expressions practically typical of the peasants of the coastal zone of Ecuador. For this reason, many of the issues they address have to do with the dynamics of life in the countryside.

Reference is often made to livestock, to crops, to how the customs of the past were better, and emblematic characters of small communities are even mentioned, such as the priest of the parish.

Featured examples of amorphines

Amorfinos from Peru

They begin with a greeting to the opponent, and then go "in heat" with more mischief.

one-

Good night gentlemen I

greet with emotion

my name is José Leturia

and I sing from the heart

Zamba tyrant of love

good night gentlemen.

Amorfinos from Chile

two-

There is no laugh that is bad

no shame that it is guena, and to have a better time, I leave these Chilean clowns.

Amorfinos from Argentina

And there the intelligent gaucho,

as soon as the colt had matted,

the leathers adjusted him

and he sat down immediately,

that man shows in life

the cunning that God gave him.

Amorfinos from Ecuador

Her: The montubio compliments

the montubia does not shrink,

she graciously rides

and he capes like a bull

if the wasp stings him.

Him: They all say their piece, they

all scream like a frog,

the lizard hits its tail

when the iguana bites it

or when the lasso is thrown.

Amorfino don't be a fool

learn to be ashamed

the one who loved you, loved you, and whoever does not, do not force it.

Here comes Jesus Christ

jumping off the walls

Jesus Christ for men

and the devil for women.

The youth of this time

they are pure fantasy, they put less in their pocket

and they always take it out empty.

How I became a tiger!…

How I became a lion!

How to eat that girl

half her heart?

I'm not leaving this house

until I eat chicken

I don't eat them in my house

because they are all fine.

10-

The banana to eat

it must be green or pintón

the man to love

It should not be a convert.

eleven-

I planted my little orange

in the middle of the orange grove;

Why would I sow it, if

your love is going to end?

12-

Little girl I looked for you

little girl I found you

little girl of my life

I'm dying for you

13-

I already know you, cholito,

that you fall in love,

walking from door to door

like a cebao lizard.

14-

When this Christian dies,

do not bury him in sacred ground:

bury him in the sheet

where I step on him.

fifteen-

I'm not from around here.

I'm from Cabito de Hacha.

I don't come for the old women

but for the girls.

16-

A ripe orange

he said to the green, green

the man when he is jealous

he lies down, but does not sleep.

17-

The boys of today

they are like dry straw, when they have rice

They lack for butter.

18-

The neighbor from here in front, has a bakery, he sells to married people

and he trusts singles.

19-

The man of courage

is like amorphous: he

is on any path acting as a

singer.

twenty-

When I pass by your house,

I have to hit you a whistle;

If your mother asks you,

tell her that it is a little bird.

twenty-one-

Mountain birds

nest in cotton:

I instead want to nest

inside your heart.

22-

I am a candle to burn

and wind to fly

I am firm to love

and brave to forget.

2. 3-

What a beautiful new house,

in someone else's possession,

the girl inside

is the owner of my heart.

24-

If I sing amorfino,

I don't do it as a hobby:

I sing to it because I'm Montubio

and I carry it in my heart.

25-

The youngsters of today,

so good and so simple,

wherever you see them

they don't even have underpants.

26-

Saint Peter had a girlfriend,

Saint Paul took her away:

if the saints were like that,

why shouldn't I be?

27-

The girls of this time

are like the naranjilla:

They are not satisfied with one,

but with the whole gang.

28-

Jesus Christ comes

jumping around the walls;

Jesus Christ for men

and the devil for women.

29-

God made Adam,

to his liking and likeness

as Adam was sad,

he gave Eve without delay.

30-

The sacristan of the parish,

rings the bell

to end the fight

between my wife and my sister.

31-

This street up, I'm going to send stone, for your mother-in-law to come by

dressed in military.

32-

From the bud of the palm, I will eat half, there is no more bitter, than love without will.

33-

Up there, on that hill,

I have a little gold box

where I keep my sighs

and the tears that I cry.

3. 4-

Always has a little job

the one who marries ugly

to have it hidden

from where no one sees it.

35-

I am the better half, I am the whole orange, I am a rose button

but not for everyone.

36-

Women of this time

are like a rotten lemon:

they are barely fifteen years old, they

already think of a husband.

37-

Up there, on that hill,

there is a pregnant sow;

every time I go up and down,

she looks like my sister in law.

38-

Between the moon and the sun

they stubbornly

the moon wanted to light

all night and day.

In that San Pedro came down, and in that they differed:

the moon shines at night

and the sun shines by day.

39-

I'm not from around here

I'm from Santa Lucia;

the face they see me today, they

don't see it every day.

40-

Since you are a singer

and you sing even to Pilate, I would like you to tell me, the hairs that the cat has.

41-

The stars in the sky

they came to light me, how they found me alone

they went back inside.

42-

The verse of amorfino, accommodates as you like:

for me the tail is chest

and the hip spine

43-

Long live my sweetheart!

that I sing with a lot of love, because it is a beautiful jewel, folklore from my Ecuador.

44-

The girls around here

they do not allow themselves to be kissed;

instead the ones over there

they even stretch their necks.

Four. Five-

The women of this time, they are like the alacarán;

come to the poor man, they raise their tails and leave

46-

Up on that hill

there is a red stick, where do i hang my hat

when I'm in love

47-

I would like to be a bird

with cotton paws

to fly to your chest

and touch your heart

48-

Your absence will be my death

your message my living, if you don't want me to die, don't stop me writing.

49-

Do not be surprised compadrito, that this is not a pass, how many times do I repeat, that I am a married woman.

fifty-

It took me an hour to meet you

and only one day to fall in love, but it will take me a lifetime

manage to forget you.

The amorphous in Ecuador

The Montubio people of Ecuador, which encompass the coastal area of this country, have been a great defender of the amorphous. Recognizing them as an essential part of their cultural roots, they have endeavored to keep the amorphous alive and faithful to the original characteristics.

Such is the case of the province of Manabí, located in western Ecuador and which is part of the coastal region of this nation. From this province, the initiative has been taken to promote and recognize, even internationally, the value of amorphines.

For example, the Teófilo Sánchez Educational Unit, located in Tablada de Sánchez, in a rural area of Manabí, periodically conducts an amorphous contest.

In these contests, students, mostly teenagers, must create new amorphines, cultivating their creativity and building on what they have learned from members of previous generations of their own families.

Need for further promotion

Given the importance and significance that amorphous have had, different studies have been carried out in the sociological field to understand how this tradition has remained quite current over time.

An example of these studies is the one carried out by María Fernanda Joza Vera and Melanie Gabriela Dueñas Vera, published in the research journal Contribuciones a las Ciencias Sociales. In this study, the researchers talk about the survival of the oral tradition of the Manabí inhabitants through the use of amorphines.

Part of what the research raises is that the significance of this tradition may have been due to its constant renewal and diffusion from generation to generation, and that it is necessary to promote a greater appearance of new amorphous in educational establishments.

In this way, from an early age this essential culture, which is part of the history of all Ecuadorians, will be promoted.

References

Amorfino by Embono. Recovered from: elmontubio.blogspot.com.
Montubio indigenous comparative table. Recovered from: sites.google.com.
Durango, M. (1980). El amorfino: an integral part of Ecuadorian popular song. Recovered from: repositorio.flacsoandes.edu.ec.
Fuertes, P. and Noboa, E. (2011). Montubia culture in the teaching-learning process. Ecuador, State University of Miracle.

AMORPHINES: CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES AND 50 EXAMPLES - ART - 2025