zortziko

zortziko (BQ N) Basque dance or song in rapid 5 / 4 meter with dotted rhythms. A variety of zortziko accompanies the performance of spontaneous poetry on a given topic, called »bertsolari« or »bertsua.« In these, the first of two lines, having ten syllables, is sung to the zortziko rhythm; the second of the two lines, having only eight syllables, is sung to a regular meter.