TXALAPARTA is a primitive Basque rhythm
played on a plank of wood by two people. Three decades ago
the tradition was recuperated by some elderly people in
various cider bars in the province of Gipuzkoa. The origins
of the sound are taken from the noise of horses hooves at
a gallop chacu-chacun. Actually the rhythm communication
can be understood between two people. the original and basic
rhythm "chacun chacun" has, and continues to,
evolve towards modern and innovative rhythmic forms, The
antique instrument consisted of a large thick plank resting
on two baskets and leaves of sweet corn. Today Txalaparta
can be of many materials (wood stone metal) Gerla Beti (Perdi
and Ruben) are Txalapartaris who work in the continuing
search and evolution of the instrument and rhythms, as well
as for the recognition of the txalaparta in other countries
and continents.
The txalaparta instrument is made up of
one or more thick wooden boards that is played by two people.
The players, called TXALAPARTARIAK, use short wooden sticks
about 10 inches long and an inch and a half in diameter
to hit the boards following a set of rules for rhythm. Each
txalapartari has his or her own space of time that can't
be invaded by the other txalapartari. This space of time
can become longer or shorter during a session of playing
and this respect for the other player's space is what keeps
the rhythm from breaking down. The basic "hits"
or KOLPEAK that can be used are: The "TXAKUN"
(The most basic) 2 "hits" close together. The
"HERENA" one hit within the space of 2. The "HUTSUNEA"
or "blank" when a player does not hit during their
space. The "HIRU KOLPEKO TXAKUNA" 3 within the
space of 2 and so on.... Some players write down their music
and create rhythms on paper while others play more spontaneously.
Most players work impromptu embellishing upon the other
player's rhythm, Historically it is believed that the TXALAPARTA
was used as a means of communication between remote baserris
(helmets). There would have been a special rhythm used to
signal that cider was ready, or that a death had occurred,
for example. Today, though, it is used more as a musical
instrument.
The Zuaznabar brothers
"Two boards placed horizontally,
insulated from the ground, produce a two-part chant, a broken
chant dominated by a descant. Ours it is not the tom-tom of
culturally primitive people, it is a TTakun-TTakun. One of
the voices describes a space similar to a river while the
other pushes it, move it out of position, get in its way,
divert it and puts the finishing touches on it. On the txalaparta
the left hand sings while the right hand works for its freedom
and returns it to nature.
Jorge Oteiza 'quosque tandem'"
The Goikoetxea brothers
Brief history of the TXALAPARTA
Tells the legend that when the Roman soldiers
enter the valleys of Euskadi (Basque Land) heard the powerful
sounds of wood that frightened their horses. We don’t
know if those sounds that scared the Romans were txalapartas
from 2000 years ago, neither we can’t proof the fact
that the txalaparta could had been such a powerful weapon.
In the Mid Age always the txalaparta related
to the night, when fests lasted long and the people jumped
and sang following the sounds of the txalaparta.
In recent times we know that after the Spanish
civil war (1963-1969) the txalaparta was almost lost. Nobody
was playing the txalaparta in public, it was censured by Franco.
It was then used to announce the season when sagardoa (cider)
was ready to be drunk, on opening the kupelak, a wonderful
way to invite other neighbors to taste the new-done sagardoa.
As well as many other customs in Euskal Herria, this one has
been spread all over the Basque Country and now, if you attend
any real Basque fest in Bilbo, Donostia or Gasteiz..., that's
to say, a romeria, I'm sure you'll listen to it accompanied
by that wonderful trikitix. In the 60´s only a couple
of families were keeping the txalaparta, the Goikoetxea and
the Zuaznabar families. Alumns of them, the Arzte brothers
recovered the instrument from the forget-fulness.
Representative artist from the Basque cultural
world like Jorge Oteiza, Nestor Barrenetxea, Mendiburu or
innovative musicians using the basque music roots like Mikel
Laboa, Benito Lertxundi, Xavier Lete or Luis de Pablo have
also contributed to rescue and expand the txalaparta.
The actual
txalaparta
(in the
picture: Tomás San Miguel with
txalapartaris Gerla Beti and sax-flutist J. Paxariño)
Actual musical fusions and experiments
evolved concerning the materials of the instrument (steels,
stones). The txalaparta blends with other instruments being
the international composer musician Tomas
San Miguel + Txalaparta pionner artist in this field
adapting the old txalaparta rhythms with the modern music
trends. In his musical projects with txalaparta “LEZAO”
, "TEN” and
"DAN_TXA" featuring txalapartaris Gerla Beti
and Ttukunak, he achieves an universe of melodies with touching
results, very original in the way he mixes the primitive
rhythms and the sophistication of the future.
Other important Basque artist contributed
to expand the txalaparta. Among them are Juan Mari Beltrán,
the trikitilari Kepa Junkera with his txalapartaris Oreka
TX and the Ugarte brothers.
Bibliography
- "Txalaparta" Josu Goiri
- "Quosque Tandem" Jorge Oteiz
Ttukunak
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