El maestro Jordi Savall junto a su grupo ofreció un concierto titulado ‘La memoria céltica en Europa’ en el Museo Diocesano Regina Coeli de Santillana del Mar. The concert, featuring Savall’s ensemble Hespèrion XXI, served as a living exploration of traditional melodies transmitted and transformed across five centuries of musical history.
Occitania, Catalonia, and Early Historical Roots
The program opened with a deliberate nod to Occitania and Catalonia, showcasing pieces from historical figures such as Marcabru, Ponç d’Ortafá, and Bartomeu Cèrceres alongside the traditional theme ‘La Mariagneta’. From the opening notes, the ensemble demonstrated a remarkable command of timbre.
They utilized roughly a dozen distinct instruments with exceptional technical precision. Jordi Savall led the melodic lines, backed closely by Andrew Lawrence-King on the harp, Enrike Solinís on plucked instruments, and David Mayoral handling percussion.
Shifting Emotions from Scottish Laments to Basque Lullabies
As the evening progressed through Scottish selections, the performance balanced lighthearted numbers like ‘Goodnight, and Joy be with you all’ with the heavy, restrained emotion of Niel Gow’s ‘Lament for the Death of his Second Wife’.
The repertoire expanded further to incorporate traditions from Brittany, the Basque Country, and Galicia. Audiences heard distinct stylistic intersections, moving smoothly from the melancholic 'Jezuz e liorz an Olived' to traditional bagpipe variations and the Basque lullaby 'Aurtxo txikia negarrez'.
Irish Landscapes and the Energy of Jigs and Reels
The concert reached its energetic peak in the final section, dubbed ‘Irish Landscapes’. Upbeat jigs and reels, including ‘The Rocky Road to Dublin’ and ‘Morrison’s Jig’, prompted visible foot-tapping and enthusiasm from the packed venue.
Emotional Appeal and the Living Medium of Tradition
Concluding the event, the musicians demonstrated the unique characteristics of their instruments. They reinforced the core premise that traditional music remains a vibrant, living medium across generations.
Worth a look
