Music of Murcia
Encyclopedia
Murcia
is a region in the South East of Spain
with many external influences varying from the ancient Moors
that occupied the area for centuries to the adjacent Communities (Andalusia
, Castilla La Mancha, etc.). Its music is determined by the heavy use of string instruments as the bandurria
or the Spanish guitar and percussion instruments like the castanets ("castañuelas" or "postizas") and the tambourine
.
Murcian music is most notably represented by the religious Auroras songs, which are derived from La Mancha
and Andalusian
folk music. They include a cappella
chants, sometimes accompanied by church bells. They are often performed in small paths in orchards at night.
Cuadrillas are festive songs traditionally sung by reduced collectives with jobs like harvesters ("segaores" [sic
]) or builders ("albañiles"), but now they are performed at celebrations and holidays, especially on Christmas
by reduced bands with occasional dancing. The Fandango Murciano is a well-known variation of the Andalusian fandango characterized by long extensions of the voice. José Verdú's Cantos populares de Murcia is a well-known collection of Murcian songs.
Murcia
-History:It is widely believed that Murcia's name is derived from the Latin words of Myrtea or Murtea, meaning land of Myrtle , although it may also be a derivation of the word Murtia, which would mean Murtius Village...
is a region in the South East of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
with many external influences varying from the ancient Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
that occupied the area for centuries to the adjacent Communities (Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
, Castilla La Mancha, etc.). Its music is determined by the heavy use of string instruments as the bandurria
Bandurria
The bandurria is a plectrum chordophone from Spain, similar to the cittern and the mandolin, primarily used in Spanish folk music.Prior to the 18th century, the bandurria had with a round back, similar or related to the mandore. It had become a flat-backed instrument by the 18th century, with five...
or the Spanish guitar and percussion instruments like the castanets ("castañuelas" or "postizas") and the tambourine
Tambourine
The tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
.
Murcian music is most notably represented by the religious Auroras songs, which are derived from La Mancha
La Mancha
La Mancha is a natural and historical region or greater comarca located on an arid, fertile, elevated plateau of central Spain, south of Madrid, stretching between the Montes de Toledo and the western spurs of the Serrania de Cuenca. It is bounded on the south by the Sierra Morena and on the north...
and Andalusian
Andalusian people
The Andalusians are the people of the southern region in Spain approximated by what is now called Andalusia. They are generally not considered an ethnically distinct people because they lack two of the most important markers of distinctiveness: their own language and an awareness of a presumed...
folk music. They include a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
chants, sometimes accompanied by church bells. They are often performed in small paths in orchards at night.
Cuadrillas are festive songs traditionally sung by reduced collectives with jobs like harvesters ("segaores" [sic
Sic
Sic—generally inside square brackets, [sic], and occasionally parentheses, —when added just after a quote or reprinted text, indicates the passage appears exactly as in the original source...
]) or builders ("albañiles"), but now they are performed at celebrations and holidays, especially on Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
by reduced bands with occasional dancing. The Fandango Murciano is a well-known variation of the Andalusian fandango characterized by long extensions of the voice. José Verdú's Cantos populares de Murcia is a well-known collection of Murcian songs.
External links
- Webpage of a Murcian Traditional Folk Music Festival (In Spanish)