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Subsections
Types of Tunes
Galician folklore is rich. Yes, we have heard this from every
folklore, but that's the least I can say. This is a 2-minute summary
of the main types of Galician folk tunes. It is neither comprehensive
nor accurate. Some types of tunes are completely traditional, and some
others were imported from abroad; I guess the same happens virtually
in every place in the world.
A Note on playing Galician tunes: Most Galician tunes (even
those with known composer) are written without gracings. These are
left to the player, which puts his/her own personal touch - which, of
course, means that when two players want to play together, they must
agree in them. Some composers choose to put the gracings (and, even in
this case, very scarcely).
- Muiñeiras
- Written in 6/8 (similar to a jig), there
are various types (golpe, ribeirana, chouteira...) depending
on the style and speed and, ultimately, in the way it is danced.
- Xotas
- Written in 3/4 or 3/8, these are lively dance tunes
which are found very often in the Spanish folklore, under the name
of ``Jotas''. Foliadas have the same basic rhythm as Xotas,
but they are played in a slightly slower tempo, and have words to
them.
- Carballesa
- A fast, 2/4 dance, with strongly marked beats.
- Fandangos
- Slow dances, written in 3/4. The flavor of old dance
tunes still remains in them.
- Alboradas
- Written in 4/4 and played in a moderate tempo, they
celebrate the new day and the rising of the sun. Some of them are
really elaborated and beautiful.
- Pasacorredoiras and Pasarrúas
- Written in 2/4,
pasacorredoiras are tunes intended to play while doing parades
(although in that case you can play almost any tune having the
proper tempo). Nothing to do, however, with real (war) marches.
- Processional marches
- These are slow marches in 4/4, 2/4 or 6/8,
which are played in religious services when statues representing
saints (sort of icons) are taken out of the churches on the
devotees' shoulders.
- Polkas
- Yes, there are polkas, which tend to be more
melodious than their Polish/Irish/Central European counterparts.
- Slow dances
- They have usually also a fast part(s), which
alterate with the slow one(s). Most of them have very nice and
elegant choreographies.
- Danzas de espadas, danzas de arcos, danzas gremiais
- Those
are tunes usually linked with a well-defined local celebration, in
which groups of dancers use sticks or swords (espadas),
schematic bows(arcos), or other implements, to thread
figures. As far as I know, these are reminiscent of old dances
linked to celebrations made by gremios (sets of persons
having the same job).
- Pandeiradas
- Pandeiradas are written in 6/8, 4/4 or 5/4.
Some scholars support the theory that all pandeiradas were
originally in 5/4, and that wrong early studies and transcriptions
distorted them.
- Alalás
- These are originally slow, short songs,
sometimes sung while working, sometimes not. Most of them are simply
beautiful, and can be played in the bagpipes.
Where, Where, Where Can I Find Them?
Please look at my friend's
page, which has some of
good pieces, both old and new.
Next: Gaita Makers
Up: Galician Bagpipes
Previous: Reeds
MCL
2001-07-13