Music of Andorra
Encyclopedia
The Principality
of Andorra
is home to folk dances like the contrapàs and marratxa, which survive in Sant Julià de Lòria
especially. Andorran folk music has similarities to the music in nearby regions of France and Spain, but is especially Catalan
in character, especially in the presence of dances like the sardana
. Other Andorran folk dances include contrapàs in Andorra la Vella
and Saint Anne's dance in Escaldes-Engordany
.
Radio Nacional d’Andorra runs both Radio Andorra
and the music station Andorra Música.
Music festivals in Andorra include the ChamJam Music Festival, Ordino and the jazz Escaldes-Engordany International Jazz Festival. Violinist Gérard Claret is the director of the Young National Orchestra of Cambra d'Andorra.
The national anthem
of Andorra is "El Gran Carlemany
" (Great Charlemagne
). It was adopted on 8 September 1914, the feast day of Andorra's patron saint
, the Virgin of Meritxell.
until 2004, when the national broadcaster RTVA
entered the competition. In 2004, Spaniard Marta Roure
's "Jugarem A Estimar-Nos
" was both the first Andorran and the first Catalan language
entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest, though it failed to qualify for the final. In 2005, Andorra entered again with ("La Mirada Interior") sung by the Dutch singer Marian van de Wal
. Again, Andorra did not come through the semi-final round. In 2006, Andorra achieved its worst result up to date, when Jenny
came out last in the semifinals with the song "Sense Tu
". In 2007 Andorra were represented by punk band Anonymous
and the song "Salvem el món
", but once more failed to pass through the semi-final round. However, they came 12th among 28 countries which was the best result for Andorra to date. This year they were represented by Gisela with the song 'Casanova' and although favourites to qualify, they failed once more to pass to the final. In 2009, Andorra selected Danish singer Susanne Georgi
to represent the principality in the contest. Other contestants including Andorran born Josep Lluis and ex-resident Jack Lucien
were also lined up for this place. Andorra decided to withdraw from the 2010 edition due to lack of funding from the TV station's shareholders and due to spending cuts within the network.
Principality
A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or by a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince....
of Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
is home to folk dances like the contrapàs and marratxa, which survive in Sant Julià de Lòria
Sant Julià de Lòria
Sant Julià de Lòria is one of the parishes of Andorra, in the far south of that country. It is also the name of the main town of the parish, which at 908 m is the lowest settlement in Andorra...
especially. Andorran folk music has similarities to the music in nearby regions of France and Spain, but is especially Catalan
Music of Catalonia
The music of Catalonia comprises one of the oldest documented musical traditions in Europe, and has displayed a rich musical culture continuously for at least two thousand years.-History:...
in character, especially in the presence of dances like the sardana
Sardana
The sardana is a type of circle dance typical of Catalonia, Spain. The dance was originally from the Empordà region, but started gaining popularity throughout Catalonia during the 20th century....
. Other Andorran folk dances include contrapàs in Andorra la Vella
Andorra la Vella
Andorra la Vella is the capital of the Co-principality of Andorra, and is located high in the east Pyrenees between France and Spain. It is also the name of the parish that surrounds the capital....
and Saint Anne's dance in Escaldes-Engordany
Escaldes-Engordany
Escaldes-Engordany is one of the parishes of Andorra. The parish is composed of the areas of les Escaldes, Engordany, Els Vilars d'Engordany, Engolasters, and El Fener. As of 2005 it has a population of 16,918. Notable events include the town's annual jazz festival....
.
Radio Nacional d’Andorra runs both Radio Andorra
Radio Andorra
Radio Andorra is the name of one of the oldest French private radios, which from 1939 until 1981 had a broadcast license in Andorra.-History:...
and the music station Andorra Música.
Music festivals in Andorra include the ChamJam Music Festival, Ordino and the jazz Escaldes-Engordany International Jazz Festival. Violinist Gérard Claret is the director of the Young National Orchestra of Cambra d'Andorra.
The national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of Andorra is "El Gran Carlemany
El Gran Carlemany
El Gran Carlemany is the national anthem of Andorra. Written by Enric Marfany Bons and composed by Joan Benlloch i Vivó , it was adopted in 1921.-Lyrics:-External links:...
" (Great Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
). It was adopted on 8 September 1914, the feast day of Andorra's patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
, the Virgin of Meritxell.
Eurovision
Andorra did not participate in the Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
until 2004, when the national broadcaster RTVA
RTVA
RTVA may refer to the following:* Ràdio i Televisió d'Andorra, the public service broadcaster of the Principality of Andorra* Radio y Televisión de Andalucía, the public service broadcaster of Andalucía, Spain...
entered the competition. In 2004, Spaniard Marta Roure
Marta Roure
Marta Roure is an Andorran singer.-Career:Roure was the performer of the Andorra's debut entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, singing "Jugarem a estimar-nos" in the 2004 edition of the Contest....
's "Jugarem A Estimar-Nos
Jugarem A Estimar-Nos
"Jugarem a estimar-nos" was the debut entry for Andorra in the Eurovision Song Contest being performed in the semi-final of the 2004 contest...
" was both the first Andorran and the first Catalan language
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest, though it failed to qualify for the final. In 2005, Andorra entered again with ("La Mirada Interior") sung by the Dutch singer Marian van de Wal
Marian van de Wal
Marian van de Wal was the representative of Andorra at the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev, Ukraine.Originally from the Netherlands, van de Wal runs a small hotel in the Andorran town of L'Aldosa. She entered Eurocasting 2005, and was one of three finalists selected to go to the country's...
. Again, Andorra did not come through the semi-final round. In 2006, Andorra achieved its worst result up to date, when Jenny
Jennifer Serrano
Jennifer Serrano, better known as Jenny, is a Spanish singer.She was born in Asturias, Spain, and is a student of music under Helen Rowson in Barcelona. She is a new artist in both Spain and Andorra, with no previous commercial success in either country. Previously, she was a waitress...
came out last in the semifinals with the song "Sense Tu
Sense Tu
"Sense tu" was Andorra's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. Performed in Catalan by Jenny, the song had to qualify from the semi-final, due to Andorra's failure to make the top ten in the previous Contest....
". In 2007 Andorra were represented by punk band Anonymous
Anonymous (band)
Anonymous is a band from Andorra that in 2007 represented the country with the song "Salvem el món" in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 after winning the national selection. The song, however, failed to make it through past the semi-final stage....
and the song "Salvem el món
Salvem el món
"Salvem el món" was the Andorran entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, performed in Catalan and English by Anonymous...
", but once more failed to pass through the semi-final round. However, they came 12th among 28 countries which was the best result for Andorra to date. This year they were represented by Gisela with the song 'Casanova' and although favourites to qualify, they failed once more to pass to the final. In 2009, Andorra selected Danish singer Susanne Georgi
Susanne Georgi
Susanne Jonah-Lynn Georgi Puigcercos, commonly known as Susanne Georgi, is a Danish singer who lives and works in Andorra....
to represent the principality in the contest. Other contestants including Andorran born Josep Lluis and ex-resident Jack Lucien
Jack Lucien
Lucien Jack is an Andorran singer who has had success in Continental Europe under the names Hun, Lucien, and Jack Lucien. He is best known for his 2009 single I'm Not Afraid...
were also lined up for this place. Andorra decided to withdraw from the 2010 edition due to lack of funding from the TV station's shareholders and due to spending cuts within the network.