Galicia
Galicia is an autonomous region of Spain. It is Located just north of Portugal in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. The region hosts the southern cape of the Bay of Biscay. The western cliffs of Cape Finisterre were considered by the Romans to be the end of the known world.
Galician and Portuguese used to be the same language. A century after Portugal’s independence (in the 13th century), the Galician-Portuguese language fragmented. It became Galician in the north and Portuguese in the rest of the territory. The official languages of Spain are: Catalan, Basque, Aranese, Spanish and Galician (Galego). Although a Celtic language has not been spoken in Galicia for centuries, the Galicia of antiquity was part of the Iberian peninsula where the Celtic language had its origins
Galician and Portuguese used to be the same language. A century after Portugal’s independence (in the 13th century), the Galician-Portuguese language fragmented. It became Galician in the north and Portuguese in the rest of the territory. The official languages of Spain are: Catalan, Basque, Aranese, Spanish and Galician (Galego). Although a Celtic language has not been spoken in Galicia for centuries, the Galicia of antiquity was part of the Iberian peninsula where the Celtic language had its origins
The 2016 population of Galicia numbered about 2.7 million people. That's just about equivalent to the population of Kansas. It's land area of roughly 11,500 square miles makes it slightly smaller than the land area of Maryland.
The traditional music of Galicia has characteristics similar to those found in the music of the other six Celtic Nations. Modern day Galicia is sometimes called the "Spanish Scotland". Bagpipes and snare drums are part of traditional Galician music. The region is not home to the flamenco music of southern Spain. The traditional heart of Galicia lies with the Celts more than it does with Mediterranean Spain.
The music of Galicia is both beautiful and unique. The standard repertoire of Galician traditional music includes polkas, waltzes, marches, rumbas and their version of the jig called muiñeira. The muineira is a fast tempo dance expressing gallantry but playful in character. Improvisation in the dance is common. Bag pipes often front the band and are supported by a kind of snare drum (tamboril) and bass drum (bombo). See the performance examples to view dancers performing the muiñeira.
The language of Galicia is Galego. No linguistic ties connect Galego with either goidelic or brythonic forms of Celtic language. To the modern ear, Galego sounds similar to Spanish or Portuguese. Galego is NOT a Celtic language.
The Galician bagpipe, gaita galega, is prominent in traditional music. Traditional performance often includes multiple pipes playing in harmony. Galitians also play an eight-hole oboe called the pitu and a six-hole transverse flute called the requinta. Snare drums called tamboril and bass drums called bombo are often part of a traditional Galican ensemble.
Learn more about "The Galician Question" at this link.
Viva Galiza!!!
The traditional music of Galicia has characteristics similar to those found in the music of the other six Celtic Nations. Modern day Galicia is sometimes called the "Spanish Scotland". Bagpipes and snare drums are part of traditional Galician music. The region is not home to the flamenco music of southern Spain. The traditional heart of Galicia lies with the Celts more than it does with Mediterranean Spain.
The music of Galicia is both beautiful and unique. The standard repertoire of Galician traditional music includes polkas, waltzes, marches, rumbas and their version of the jig called muiñeira. The muineira is a fast tempo dance expressing gallantry but playful in character. Improvisation in the dance is common. Bag pipes often front the band and are supported by a kind of snare drum (tamboril) and bass drum (bombo). See the performance examples to view dancers performing the muiñeira.
The language of Galicia is Galego. No linguistic ties connect Galego with either goidelic or brythonic forms of Celtic language. To the modern ear, Galego sounds similar to Spanish or Portuguese. Galego is NOT a Celtic language.
The Galician bagpipe, gaita galega, is prominent in traditional music. Traditional performance often includes multiple pipes playing in harmony. Galitians also play an eight-hole oboe called the pitu and a six-hole transverse flute called the requinta. Snare drums called tamboril and bass drums called bombo are often part of a traditional Galican ensemble.
Learn more about "The Galician Question" at this link.
Viva Galiza!!!
The Galician tunes below are presented in both standard notation and ABC notation. Click on the audio players to hear the tunes. If you want to download an mp3 files of a tune to study it in greater depth, go to the tune download page.
The performance examples show Galician ensembles and dancers. These groups are often fronted by bagpipes, use various drums and bombards in addition to familiar Celtic instruments. See the performance examples at this link
The performance examples show Galician ensembles and dancers. These groups are often fronted by bagpipes, use various drums and bombards in addition to familiar Celtic instruments. See the performance examples at this link
Tunes For The Class
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More Galician Tunes
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