euskalkultura.eus

Arrecifes, Argentina.  Organized by FEVA under the direction of the Buenos Aires Laurak Bat Basque club txistulari Jose Gutierrez, a group of almosy 20 youth gathered at the Arrecifes Basque club to participate in the first Txistu workshop of the year.  The goal was very clear, to train txistularis in Argentina; guarantee their participation in national activities, like Semana Vasca; and to support the training of txistularis so that they can, in turn, train others in their clubs, or neighboring ones as the case may be. 

The day was structured as a workshop.  This means, according to FEVA, “Given he different levels of knowledge and interpretation of the instrument, participants were divided in two groups that were not homogeneous and allowed for advancement and development during the activity.”

[Participants in the First Txistu Workshop: Juan Ignacio Sáez Abarrategui and Marianela Rimini Azarola, from Arrecifes; Damián Bergerot Marinelli and Lorenzo Bucci, from Bahía Blanca; Franco Martinetti, from Chacabuco; Aitor Hormaechea, Facundo Martín Rodríguez , Fiamma Aylén Gallardo, Juan Manuel Hiriart and Nerea Balzola Aguilera, from Mar del Plata; Juan Ignacio Bonansea, Ana Clara Franco and Valentina Miguelena, from Pergamino; Mauro Matheu, of Posadas; and Lisandro Gil, Martina Saa and Valeria Maglioccheti, from San Nicolás. Directed by José Gutiérrez (photoFEVA)]

In regards to beginners, they worked mainly on the getting to know the instrument, scales and an easy lesson on reading music.  In the advanced course, however, they learned music in hopes of acquiring a common repertoire that they could play together at various festivals or get-togethers.  It should be mentioned that all material used was photocopied by FEVA.

At the end of the workshop, Ricardo Basterra, FEVA’s president and Omar Gorostidy, club president awarded diplomas to those who participated and to their professor.  The Federation also informed EuiskalKultura.com that the experience was very successful and that they will work to organize a second workshop before Semana Vasca (in the beginning of September) in hopes of preparing a joint performance during that event.

First Txistulari meeting “Potxolo Loyola”

Taking advantage of the presence of txistularis and the workshop atmosphere, members of Euskaldunak Denak Bat organized the first meeting of Txistularis “Potxolo Loyola.” The event included the collaboration of first rate folks like the cooks from the Euzkal Etxea in San Nicolas in the kitchen and musicians from Baietz who came to Arrecifes after sharing the stage in Cordoba with Fermin Muguruza.

[Cooks from San Nicolas were in charge of the meals.  The menu: calamari in butter with rice (photo EE)]

To start the party and with live music from the Txistularis present, Juan Ignacio Saez Abarrategui danced the “Agurra” for the family of Potxolo Loyola and Tiburcio Bilbao – his teacher.  After lunch, the musicians played various tunes that they had worked on the day before, among which “Agur Xiberoa,” “Andre Madalen,” “Zazpi Jauzi,” “Ikusi mendizaleak,” and “Batasuna,” to name a few. In the same way, and encouraged by the music that never stopped, the youth jumped into spontaneous kalejiras, fandangos, and other dances in the main room at the Basque clubhouse.

[To honor the Txistulari Potxolo Loyola and his master: Juan Ignacio Saez Abarrategui danced “Aurresku,” to Pitxina Irigoyen Loyola's widow and to Hector Julio Garcia Bilbao – grandson of Tiburcio Bilbao (photo EE)]

In addition to workshop participants, there were also representatives present from Capitan Sarmiento, Los Toldos, Santa Rosa and Suipacha.  There was also a FEVA meeting that was attended by members of Basque clubs in Arrecifes, Buenos Aires, Cnel. Pringles, Junin, Rosario and San Nicolas.