The Ereintza Elkartea txistulari group, in collaboration with María Magdalenaren Lagunak, has organized a special concert scheduled for Friday, April 24, at the María Magdalena Basilica in Errenteria. This event will feature the joint participation of three generations of musicians, aiming to highlight the continuity and evolution of the txistu tradition.
“"It is not intended to be solely a musical performance, but also an expression of passion and the connection between the past and the present."
According to the organizers, this event transcends the usual concert format, becoming a demonstration of cultural transmission and commitment to this instrument. The repertoire will begin with a festive tone, featuring the pieces Las biribilketas Ibarzabal and Erandio Goikoa. Following this, the program will include the Minueto Brakaman by the San Sebastian composer Raimundo Sarriegui, a work that reflects the evolution of this dance from its rural origins to its consolidation in European courtly settings.
The concert will continue with Abendua, by the musician Demetrio Iriarte, an alborada structured in four parts that combines traditional rhythms such as zortziko, fandango, and arin-arin, culminating in a biribilketa. This work, awarded in 1975, stands out for its rhythmic richness and dynamic character.
The second part of the program will feature Aintzinako aire berriak, an adaptation of compositions by Jean Noël Marchand, reinterpreted for txistu ensemble by Ansorena. Subsequently, Pazkoetan den alegerena, based on a traditional dance from Urdiain (Navarra), will be performed. The repertoire will also incorporate the rhapsody Ametsa, built from melodies by Eduardo Ezeizabarrena, whose compositions evoke a strong nostalgia for the Basque landscape and identity.
In the final stretch, the group will perform Isidro Ansorena's Fandango and Arin-arin, pieces closely linked to the toponymy of Hernani. The concert will conclude with a selection of traditional dances from Rioja Alavesa, which, although historically performed with dulzaina, have been incorporated into the txistu repertoire. This performance highlights the diversity and richness of traditional Basque music, combining original works and adaptations, and reinforces the txistu's essential role in generational transmission and the preservation of cultural heritage.
