Spanish Music León Aragón. La jota and the storks

Spanish Music León Aragón

Laciana

My family’s hometown in Leon; Northern Spain.

My family home

Laciana is an isolated region that boomed during the 20th century coal mining era. Now days, it has lost its contemporary urban glamour but maintains the magnificence  of its nature and culture. 

Up high in its mountains, we can still find the cowboys of the highlands: ” The vaqueiros de alzada”; the last of the Spanish nomads. In summer, they bring up to high lands cattle and sheep, from water stricken areas, to graze in the green of the highland pastures. As a kid, I used to spend days up in the mountains following them around and enjoying their music.

Their folklore represents some of the most original and unique representation of folklore from this valley, called Laciana.

Music is a reflection of the human need to be part of something greater than oneself. No matter where I go in Spain, I succumb to the beauty of popular musical manifestation.

Spain is rich in culture and music

On my way back to Barcelona, from my family’s home town in Villaseca de Laciana,  I spent a  night in the wine region of La Rioja, in the small town of Alfaro.

The city of Alfaro is currently home to the largest urban white stork colony in the world, located in a single building, the Collegiate Church of San Miguel Arcángel; declared an Artistic Historical Monument.

Year after year this colony grows, and they continue to build their enormous nests that can weigh more than 500 kg.  At present, the church and surrounding rooftops take on more than 120 nests and 500 storks in the breeding season.

Do storks make music? Not yet, but the locals do a great job with their music called la jota.

Spanish Music León, Aragón:The Aragonese Jota

Aragonese jota singer legend Pedro Nadal, known as El Royo del Rabal (“The Redhead from the Peasant’s Quarter”), as painted in 1881 by Carlos Larraz.

The Aragonese Jota is the best-known expression of Aragonese folklore.

Who knows; maybe the storks have something to do with this unique form of dancing.

Upcoming Guitar Courses

I will commence all  Melbourne and  Sydney Guitar Courses on May 8.

I applaud all music lovers who wish to furnace the need of creativity on our lives. When we create, we flow. The energy within us emanates fluently. In my case, back aches disappear, sinuses decongest , happiness explodes and kidneys work at full speed. In other words, I feel alive as all my body is one in the making of music.

Come and join us in our yearly musical adventure. Please send me an email to learn more about the courses: even though there are limited spaces left for levels 1, 2 and 3.

Flamenco Guitars for sale

In a fews days I will arrive back in Melbourne with part of my old collection of Spanish Flamenco guitars for sale. Please send me an email to book an appointment and check them out.

Melbourne Concerts

I am looking forward to starting my yearly series of Flamenco World Music Guitar concerts  in Melbourne. My first show will be at the Paris Cat in June with Ben Robertson on Bass and Darryn Farrugia on Drums.  The date in June is: Wednesday 28 at 8.30 pm

Libros de Música

Please take a peek at my text book on arranging and orchestration called: Libros del Música,  el Arreglo un Puzzle de Expresión  Musical. I share with you 478 pages of knowledge that will help your music be even more expressive and satisfying.