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Welcome to the Banda de Gaitas USA area of the forum!
I will try to post here the email messages in our conversation so far. There are nearly 60 of them, so I won't bother to change the database so that the correct posters get credit. I will, however, put a note at the top of each message about who they are from.
Banda de Gaitas USA -- the initial emails
Moderator: Moderators
Banda de Gaitas USA -- the initial emails
Last edited by Art on Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
Alberto [This first message that I (Art) received]
ALBERTO (Trabanco)
Queridos amigos;
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed to get to see you in NY. There were some things that I wish had been better timed, like been able to attend the parade and not having to miss some of the talks, but I understand the situation perfectly, specially taking into account Pace's limited availability. I am sorry we did not have the opportunity nor the time to get to talk as much as we did in Florida and I am really sad that I wasn't able to make it to all presentations.
One of the ideas that came up in the Xornaes was the creation of a Banda de Gaites in the USA. I think it can be done and this is a good moment to get some support through ASUSA's contacts.
This is the plan:
we could stablish 4 or 5 groups in different areas Orlando/Tampa, Washinton DC, New York, California, WV..maybe some others.
one person would be in charge of each area. That person would need to learn first how to play the gaita. There we would ask the help of the Principau, so a maestro gaiteru (Bras or other) can fly here every now and then and help us achieve that goal. To the best of my knowledge three of us (Art, natalia in DC and myself) already have the gaites.
Then every one of us would recruit 6 o 7 other people (the more the better) to teach them. Of course we need to convince the Principado the pay the price of the gaites, traxes, and more training (that's where ASUSA's role can be vital).
We would practise separately, but we would get together once a year to do some act together. The focal place would be the Saint Patrick's parade in NY (with Bras Rodrigo now as the Marshall of the parade for all Europe, this is something we could do).
The first year or two it would be just the 4 or 5 of us joining the parade with the Asturians and playing with them. Once our students are ready we could collaborate with 20 or 30 more gaiteros.
Getting together again to celebrate Asturies and parading in the "Asturian Pride" march in NY has been an extraordinary powerful experience. We have the momentum. Let's keep it rolling.
Un abrazu muy fuerte,
Alberto
I include here two pics from the parade in case you want to post them on the webpage. I didn't get any pics at the Xornaes, so maybe you can post a few of your own there too, so everybody can see them.
Queridos amigos;
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed to get to see you in NY. There were some things that I wish had been better timed, like been able to attend the parade and not having to miss some of the talks, but I understand the situation perfectly, specially taking into account Pace's limited availability. I am sorry we did not have the opportunity nor the time to get to talk as much as we did in Florida and I am really sad that I wasn't able to make it to all presentations.
One of the ideas that came up in the Xornaes was the creation of a Banda de Gaites in the USA. I think it can be done and this is a good moment to get some support through ASUSA's contacts.
This is the plan:
we could stablish 4 or 5 groups in different areas Orlando/Tampa, Washinton DC, New York, California, WV..maybe some others.
one person would be in charge of each area. That person would need to learn first how to play the gaita. There we would ask the help of the Principau, so a maestro gaiteru (Bras or other) can fly here every now and then and help us achieve that goal. To the best of my knowledge three of us (Art, natalia in DC and myself) already have the gaites.
Then every one of us would recruit 6 o 7 other people (the more the better) to teach them. Of course we need to convince the Principado the pay the price of the gaites, traxes, and more training (that's where ASUSA's role can be vital).
We would practise separately, but we would get together once a year to do some act together. The focal place would be the Saint Patrick's parade in NY (with Bras Rodrigo now as the Marshall of the parade for all Europe, this is something we could do).
The first year or two it would be just the 4 or 5 of us joining the parade with the Asturians and playing with them. Once our students are ready we could collaborate with 20 or 30 more gaiteros.
Getting together again to celebrate Asturies and parading in the "Asturian Pride" march in NY has been an extraordinary powerful experience. We have the momentum. Let's keep it rolling.
Un abrazu muy fuerte,
Alberto
I include here two pics from the parade in case you want to post them on the webpage. I didn't get any pics at the Xornaes, so maybe you can post a few of your own there too, so everybody can see them.
Art
ART
Hola a todos,
I also enjoyed the xornaes and thank Andres and all those who took part once again. It was a wonderful experience.
Once again Alberto has come up with a great idea. Yes, I'd be interested in the Banda de Gaites de USA. (I wonder if we could also teach a little basic Asturianu, perhaps just informally.)
I think I've heard Alberto say that he's not given the gaita as much attention as he'd like. That's true of me, too. Being part of a group would be more motivating and having a teacher occasionally would be very helpful. I've looked in this area and found only one self-taught musician who plays the gaita gallego.
If we do this well, it could become a network of social clubs. That would tie in perfectly with Tony's dreams for the Tampa Centro Asturiano.
I've added Ron Gonzalez to the recipients of this email because he maybe able to tell us whether there might be interest in WV. What do you think Ron?
I find it particularly intriguing that Alberto has envisioned an organization that is spread out over most of a continent. If we can make a distant organization like this work we'll have something really remarkable in itself. I like the idea that the band could be the thread that unites ASUSA, AsturianUS.org, and possibly other groups.
Having the goal of marching in the St Patrick's Day Parade would be a great motivator. That's a winning idea.
The gaita I have is a set of Galician pipes in B natural. The fingering is different and it's in a totally useless key for group work, so I'll need another set of pipes.
Who pays for and owns the gaites and trajes that bands like Corvera use? Is it normal for the government to buy them? I can see how a $1000 investment could limit our membership.
For what it's worth, I have a (currently) empty apartment in south of Baltimore that we could use for practice.
I think it's worthwhile posting this to the forum. Would you do that for us Alberto? Or do you want me to do it?
Un saludu candial,
Art
Hola a todos,
I also enjoyed the xornaes and thank Andres and all those who took part once again. It was a wonderful experience.
Once again Alberto has come up with a great idea. Yes, I'd be interested in the Banda de Gaites de USA. (I wonder if we could also teach a little basic Asturianu, perhaps just informally.)
I think I've heard Alberto say that he's not given the gaita as much attention as he'd like. That's true of me, too. Being part of a group would be more motivating and having a teacher occasionally would be very helpful. I've looked in this area and found only one self-taught musician who plays the gaita gallego.
If we do this well, it could become a network of social clubs. That would tie in perfectly with Tony's dreams for the Tampa Centro Asturiano.
I've added Ron Gonzalez to the recipients of this email because he maybe able to tell us whether there might be interest in WV. What do you think Ron?
I find it particularly intriguing that Alberto has envisioned an organization that is spread out over most of a continent. If we can make a distant organization like this work we'll have something really remarkable in itself. I like the idea that the band could be the thread that unites ASUSA, AsturianUS.org, and possibly other groups.
Having the goal of marching in the St Patrick's Day Parade would be a great motivator. That's a winning idea.
The gaita I have is a set of Galician pipes in B natural. The fingering is different and it's in a totally useless key for group work, so I'll need another set of pipes.
Who pays for and owns the gaites and trajes that bands like Corvera use? Is it normal for the government to buy them? I can see how a $1000 investment could limit our membership.
For what it's worth, I have a (currently) empty apartment in south of Baltimore that we could use for practice.
I think it's worthwhile posting this to the forum. Would you do that for us Alberto? Or do you want me to do it?
Un saludu candial,
Art
Bob
BOB
Hola Alberto,
Count me in. I've been considering buying a gaita for the last year or so,
but have held off doing so because I knew of no one who could help me learn
how to play.
The Xornaes were wonderful but by far too short. Andrés did a wonderful job
of reorganizing the events in the face of the weather related closing of the
university. I especially enjoyed Chema's poetry reading and Pablo's reading
of Asturian folk tales. Evelyn and I were both thrilled that Blas and his
gaiterus played for those of us who were able to be at the closing session.
I have told my dad about the conference and will send him some photos. In
retrospect, it was probably good that he decided he could not come, because
the weather would have made it almost impossible for him to get around
(Evelyn and I used cabs, but even so we often had to walk a block or two
over the sleet and slush). If I had known that you were staying at the POD
Hotel, as we did, you could have shared out taxis. I get a little uneasy
about the subways in bad weather - they tend to flood out. Evelyn was once
stuck on one for over six hours.
El león ended up being hospitalized Sunday and Monday anyway. He's doing
fine now, but was having breathing difficulties. Probably related to
dehydration and lack of activity. My brother Rick is in Tampa for the week,
so the younger generation picked up the duties associated with his needs,
and he is staying with my niece and her family for a few days.
The one person I haven't been able to identify in my photos is the woman in
the pink sweater who sang in conjunction with Blas' and Chema's performance.
I think, although I am not certain, that she was also one of the drummers in
the banda de gaiterus. She certainly had a lovely voice. I would like to
know who she is so I can identify everyone in the photos I have for the
website.
I ended up taking 165 photos, some of which are good and some of which are
bad. Once I sort them all out I'll send them around to everyone. Do you
have email addresses for the people from Asturias? I would like to send
them copies too.
Un abrazo desde New Haven y Rockport,
Bob
Hola Alberto,
Count me in. I've been considering buying a gaita for the last year or so,
but have held off doing so because I knew of no one who could help me learn
how to play.
The Xornaes were wonderful but by far too short. Andrés did a wonderful job
of reorganizing the events in the face of the weather related closing of the
university. I especially enjoyed Chema's poetry reading and Pablo's reading
of Asturian folk tales. Evelyn and I were both thrilled that Blas and his
gaiterus played for those of us who were able to be at the closing session.
I have told my dad about the conference and will send him some photos. In
retrospect, it was probably good that he decided he could not come, because
the weather would have made it almost impossible for him to get around
(Evelyn and I used cabs, but even so we often had to walk a block or two
over the sleet and slush). If I had known that you were staying at the POD
Hotel, as we did, you could have shared out taxis. I get a little uneasy
about the subways in bad weather - they tend to flood out. Evelyn was once
stuck on one for over six hours.
El león ended up being hospitalized Sunday and Monday anyway. He's doing
fine now, but was having breathing difficulties. Probably related to
dehydration and lack of activity. My brother Rick is in Tampa for the week,
so the younger generation picked up the duties associated with his needs,
and he is staying with my niece and her family for a few days.
The one person I haven't been able to identify in my photos is the woman in
the pink sweater who sang in conjunction with Blas' and Chema's performance.
I think, although I am not certain, that she was also one of the drummers in
the banda de gaiterus. She certainly had a lovely voice. I would like to
know who she is so I can identify everyone in the photos I have for the
website.
I ended up taking 165 photos, some of which are good and some of which are
bad. Once I sort them all out I'll send them around to everyone. Do you
have email addresses for the people from Asturias? I would like to send
them copies too.
Un abrazo desde New Haven y Rockport,
Bob
Natalia
NATALIA
Dear Paul and Art:
I just wanted to say that it was great meeting you both and to know that I have people around that shares the same passion as I do.
I was talking with Alberto as well and try to see the possibility to bring Rodrigo for a bagpipe curse. I was in the band as bagpiper in the Centro Asturiano de Mendoza and I've been looking foward to play again!
Before my trip to NY, I got some contacts at the Spanish Embassy which is just across the street of my apartment and they told me that they willing to promote any cultural activity if we present a proposal.They can connect us with schools of Music or universities.
I have a really good relationship with VirginiaTech in old Town Alexandria as well, and I'm pretty sure they will be interested to be part of it.
Please let me know your thoughts to keep this moving.
Art if you could contact me with Alfonso's son will be great. I believe you told me that you might need some help in the organization of Potomac Festival , please let me know I will be more than happy to help.
Looking foward to hear from you,
Natalia G. Montagna, AIA Assoc.
Dear Paul and Art:
I just wanted to say that it was great meeting you both and to know that I have people around that shares the same passion as I do.
I was talking with Alberto as well and try to see the possibility to bring Rodrigo for a bagpipe curse. I was in the band as bagpiper in the Centro Asturiano de Mendoza and I've been looking foward to play again!
Before my trip to NY, I got some contacts at the Spanish Embassy which is just across the street of my apartment and they told me that they willing to promote any cultural activity if we present a proposal.They can connect us with schools of Music or universities.
I have a really good relationship with VirginiaTech in old Town Alexandria as well, and I'm pretty sure they will be interested to be part of it.
Please let me know your thoughts to keep this moving.
Art if you could contact me with Alfonso's son will be great. I believe you told me that you might need some help in the organization of Potomac Festival , please let me know I will be more than happy to help.
Looking foward to hear from you,
Natalia G. Montagna, AIA Assoc.
Alberto
ALBERTO
This sounds familiar:
http://www.potomaccelticfest.org/
I can see there is a Asturias Celtic Society (voted best tent in 2002)
This year they are doing a Workshop: Galicia and the Asturias with Alfonzo Diaz
I think I read something about this in the Forum. I am sure Art, Paul or Bob can remember. We need to contact this Asturias Celtic Society.
Alberto
This sounds familiar:
http://www.potomaccelticfest.org/
I can see there is a Asturias Celtic Society (voted best tent in 2002)
This year they are doing a Workshop: Galicia and the Asturias with Alfonzo Diaz
I think I read something about this in the Forum. I am sure Art, Paul or Bob can remember. We need to contact this Asturias Celtic Society.
Alberto
Natalia
NATALIA
Hola a todos,
Of course I'm in as well!. It was amazing to be part of the xornaes, get
together
with all of you and see what it has been generated.
I had the chance to share some of this ideas with Chema and Bras and I believe
we will get the support from the Principality.
Bras said that we have to move fast, and let him know when we can make it.
So far I'm getting in contact with the embassy of Spain (Culture Department)
here in DC and Virginia Tech as well to see how they respond to the proposal of
bagpipe curse.
Alberto needs to contact Chema I think as soon as possible to keep this rolling.
I'll be in Tampa for Easter weekend and I would like to meet with Tony there.
I'm open as well to set a time to get together with the people in the DC area .
I think this is very representative for us:
" A donde quiera que el asturiano va lleva a Asturias consigo;
en apartadas regiones del globo hay asturianos tan
asturianos como los mas asturianos y que, sin embargo,
ni han nacido en Asturias, ni jamas la han visto.
Son asturianos por relacion o contagio, porque un asturiano
o grupo de asturianos hubieron de infundar alli el espiritu
de Asturias..."
Perez Ayala.
Natalia G. Montagna, AIA Assoc.
Hola a todos,
Of course I'm in as well!. It was amazing to be part of the xornaes, get
together
with all of you and see what it has been generated.
I had the chance to share some of this ideas with Chema and Bras and I believe
we will get the support from the Principality.
Bras said that we have to move fast, and let him know when we can make it.
So far I'm getting in contact with the embassy of Spain (Culture Department)
here in DC and Virginia Tech as well to see how they respond to the proposal of
bagpipe curse.
Alberto needs to contact Chema I think as soon as possible to keep this rolling.
I'll be in Tampa for Easter weekend and I would like to meet with Tony there.
I'm open as well to set a time to get together with the people in the DC area .
I think this is very representative for us:
" A donde quiera que el asturiano va lleva a Asturias consigo;
en apartadas regiones del globo hay asturianos tan
asturianos como los mas asturianos y que, sin embargo,
ni han nacido en Asturias, ni jamas la han visto.
Son asturianos por relacion o contagio, porque un asturiano
o grupo de asturianos hubieron de infundar alli el espiritu
de Asturias..."
Perez Ayala.
Natalia G. Montagna, AIA Assoc.
Paul / IS
PAUL / IS
Bonas, xente. I left my bagpipe back in Asturias because I was having problems with the reed ('payuela'). I paid Carlos (the bagpiper in Xixon who is a member of AsturianUS.org) to replace the inside with Gore Tex, as well as repair a few pieces, for 120 euros (=$160). But it still does not work correctly. Carlos also said that the size of my chanter ('punteiru') means I can't use that pipe to play together with other people. So we need to consider the fact that all 'punteirus' need to have the exact same measurements in order to play the right notes.
I think Alberto's idea is great and he's right in thinking we should seize the moment now that the Conseyeria de Xusticia & Emigracion met us in New York (Chema Vega is the press attache for the Justic Councilor, Javier Garcia Valledor). Here in Washington/Baltimore we already have Art, Natalia, Alfonso (who I don't know) and myself. I have not met Xose yet, but he might also be interested right Art? I am sure that if we make announcements somewhere like the City Paper here in DC we might see other asturianos interested. With a bit more critical mass, we can organize 'daque curiosu'.
As for accepting the pipes from the regional government. If it's the Conseyeria de Xusticia & Emigracion in charge of paying for instruments and 'traxes', I would not mind right now because they belong to the IX-Bloque por Asturies party (United Left, the smaller coalition partner). But that could change after the May 27 election and, as Art says, we don't want to be beholden to a branch of government.
Art, is the 'punteiru' in the Galician pipe radically different than the Asturian? If not, what if we got together with Galicians in a single band? That would be a nice mix and we'd be more people involved. It would also be the first time that was done.
Paul
Bonas, xente. I left my bagpipe back in Asturias because I was having problems with the reed ('payuela'). I paid Carlos (the bagpiper in Xixon who is a member of AsturianUS.org) to replace the inside with Gore Tex, as well as repair a few pieces, for 120 euros (=$160). But it still does not work correctly. Carlos also said that the size of my chanter ('punteiru') means I can't use that pipe to play together with other people. So we need to consider the fact that all 'punteirus' need to have the exact same measurements in order to play the right notes.
I think Alberto's idea is great and he's right in thinking we should seize the moment now that the Conseyeria de Xusticia & Emigracion met us in New York (Chema Vega is the press attache for the Justic Councilor, Javier Garcia Valledor). Here in Washington/Baltimore we already have Art, Natalia, Alfonso (who I don't know) and myself. I have not met Xose yet, but he might also be interested right Art? I am sure that if we make announcements somewhere like the City Paper here in DC we might see other asturianos interested. With a bit more critical mass, we can organize 'daque curiosu'.
As for accepting the pipes from the regional government. If it's the Conseyeria de Xusticia & Emigracion in charge of paying for instruments and 'traxes', I would not mind right now because they belong to the IX-Bloque por Asturies party (United Left, the smaller coalition partner). But that could change after the May 27 election and, as Art says, we don't want to be beholden to a branch of government.
Art, is the 'punteiru' in the Galician pipe radically different than the Asturian? If not, what if we got together with Galicians in a single band? That would be a nice mix and we'd be more people involved. It would also be the first time that was done.
Paul
Alberto
ALBERTO
Natalia, Art
A ver, voy por partes:
ya estoy en contacto con Bras y con Chema y los de la Conseyeria para el tema de las subvenciones (dos cosas: for now we need gaites and we need help in learning how to play them. Then we will need drums, more gaites and the traxes). Efectivamente es importante no perder la energia del momento, asi que estoy intentando moverme lo más rapido que puedo. Ya os cuento como va todo. As I said before, ASUSA's momentum can give us the edge here.
La gaita: como os dije tengo una flauta con los furacos de gaita (digitación de gaita), pero llevo dos dias que no la encuentro y me temo que mis hijos la hayan hecho desaparecer; tienen ese poder mágico! De todos modos siempre se puede practicar el movimiento de dedos con el punteru solo, pero claro, no se oye nada. In any case that should be our goal now: to move our fingers and to read the notes. Tengo los tres metodos de gaita más conocidos: el de Xuacu Amieva (muy breve, son sobre todo partituras) el de Guti (bastante completo) y el editado por la Consejería de educación.
Si me dais vuestra dirección os mando fotocopias de estos dos últimos que son los mejores que conozco y asi podemos empezar a trabajar todos juntos, y tal vez marcarnos el objetivo de aprender el Asturias y el Ringo Rango, como sugiere natalia (Las dos canciones estan en los metodos con partituras). Los metodos enseñan a como leer musica, asi que aunque uno no sepa solfeo no importa.
Please understand that the only reason why I am sending the methods to you and not to everyone interested in playing is because to the best of my knowledge the three of us are the only ones who have a gaita right now. ONce we get more gaitas, we could find ways to share the metodos, but I don't see the point in sending them without having the instrument and it could be more frustrating than anything else. Besides there are a lot of pages (I can have Rollins make your copies now, but eventually we'll have to find a way to pay for this). We could also have copyright issues here, so I don't want to just send it all over now.
Un abrazu y seguimos en contacto
Alberto
Natalia: muy buena la cita de Perez de Ayala
Natalia, Art
A ver, voy por partes:
ya estoy en contacto con Bras y con Chema y los de la Conseyeria para el tema de las subvenciones (dos cosas: for now we need gaites and we need help in learning how to play them. Then we will need drums, more gaites and the traxes). Efectivamente es importante no perder la energia del momento, asi que estoy intentando moverme lo más rapido que puedo. Ya os cuento como va todo. As I said before, ASUSA's momentum can give us the edge here.
La gaita: como os dije tengo una flauta con los furacos de gaita (digitación de gaita), pero llevo dos dias que no la encuentro y me temo que mis hijos la hayan hecho desaparecer; tienen ese poder mágico! De todos modos siempre se puede practicar el movimiento de dedos con el punteru solo, pero claro, no se oye nada. In any case that should be our goal now: to move our fingers and to read the notes. Tengo los tres metodos de gaita más conocidos: el de Xuacu Amieva (muy breve, son sobre todo partituras) el de Guti (bastante completo) y el editado por la Consejería de educación.
Si me dais vuestra dirección os mando fotocopias de estos dos últimos que son los mejores que conozco y asi podemos empezar a trabajar todos juntos, y tal vez marcarnos el objetivo de aprender el Asturias y el Ringo Rango, como sugiere natalia (Las dos canciones estan en los metodos con partituras). Los metodos enseñan a como leer musica, asi que aunque uno no sepa solfeo no importa.
Please understand that the only reason why I am sending the methods to you and not to everyone interested in playing is because to the best of my knowledge the three of us are the only ones who have a gaita right now. ONce we get more gaitas, we could find ways to share the metodos, but I don't see the point in sending them without having the instrument and it could be more frustrating than anything else. Besides there are a lot of pages (I can have Rollins make your copies now, but eventually we'll have to find a way to pay for this). We could also have copyright issues here, so I don't want to just send it all over now.
Un abrazu y seguimos en contacto
Alberto
Natalia: muy buena la cita de Perez de Ayala
Alberto
ALBERTO
Buenes;
our strategy needs to be: 1) fast 2) focused. Our goal to create a Banda d'Gaites here in the US has received lot of support from people here and also in Asturias. I already have received mails from Bras Rodrigo and Chema Vega encouraging us to continue with this idea.
I believe this goal can be better canalized through ASUSA's network and connections. I am already having conversation with Chema Vega and I plan to start talking to Vallededor and Luismi as soon as I can. Andres is going to Asturies in a couple of weeks representing ASUSA in an Immigration forum, so he will meet with them while he is there and he'll follow up with this.
Right now we need Gaites and playing lessons. Natalia, Art and I have gaites here, but we might have all different types. I say that's OK now, as long as we learn how to play them. In the mean time, I'll request that el Principau donates us a number of gaites and tambores to start. We'll also like to have Bras to come here and teach us. Our immediate goal will be to join Bras and play in the parade in Saint Patricks day NY '08. It can be 2, 3, 4 of us. The more the better, but for 08 we don't need to have our whole own banda assembled. After that experience each of us we could start teaching other people, requesting more gaites y traxes and then we could form a banda of 20/30 people total with several leaders spread across the country, and then all coming together to play in specific acts (ST. Pats and others like Potomac, Tampa....).
I think this is a realistic goal. Coming together with the Gallegos would be very difficult; gaites and sound are VERY different and I think it would complicate things, and also substract some legitimacy with the Principau, who should be our main sponsor.
Pa'yá vamos!
Bertu
Buenes;
our strategy needs to be: 1) fast 2) focused. Our goal to create a Banda d'Gaites here in the US has received lot of support from people here and also in Asturias. I already have received mails from Bras Rodrigo and Chema Vega encouraging us to continue with this idea.
I believe this goal can be better canalized through ASUSA's network and connections. I am already having conversation with Chema Vega and I plan to start talking to Vallededor and Luismi as soon as I can. Andres is going to Asturies in a couple of weeks representing ASUSA in an Immigration forum, so he will meet with them while he is there and he'll follow up with this.
Right now we need Gaites and playing lessons. Natalia, Art and I have gaites here, but we might have all different types. I say that's OK now, as long as we learn how to play them. In the mean time, I'll request that el Principau donates us a number of gaites and tambores to start. We'll also like to have Bras to come here and teach us. Our immediate goal will be to join Bras and play in the parade in Saint Patricks day NY '08. It can be 2, 3, 4 of us. The more the better, but for 08 we don't need to have our whole own banda assembled. After that experience each of us we could start teaching other people, requesting more gaites y traxes and then we could form a banda of 20/30 people total with several leaders spread across the country, and then all coming together to play in specific acts (ST. Pats and others like Potomac, Tampa....).
I think this is a realistic goal. Coming together with the Gallegos would be very difficult; gaites and sound are VERY different and I think it would complicate things, and also substract some legitimacy with the Principau, who should be our main sponsor.
Pa'yá vamos!
Bertu
Art
ART
Hola a to@s,
Paul has raised two issues on punteiros.
I've learned most of what I know about gaitas from a few books and from Carlos Moreno García, a luthier who is also a member of www.asturianUS.org. (If you see something wrong in what I say, I'm certainly open to being corrected.)
Paul's right that to play with others, you have to be in the same key. As Paul has said, it's primarily the length of the punteiru (chanter) that determines which key it's in. I don't understand this, but the reeds have to match the key, too.
Actually, with a few exceptions, the roncones (drones) are usually limited to one key, too. (I know of one maker who makes a beautiful gaita gallega that can switch between C and D, but you have to have two punteiros. Most gaitas aren't made to switch keys.
If I recall correctly, modern Asturian gaita bands usually play in C or Bb. If we want to play with Corvera, for example, we need to use the same key they use. I think there's been a shift in which keys are used, so we need to ask about this.
It looked to me that the Corvera band's were all the same model, so they might be playing gaitas all made by the same constructor. That might make sense because, from the little I know with highland chanters, different brands can sound fairly different or even discordant.
The punteiru gallego and asturianu are different in fingering and even tonal qualities. I think Carlos told me that the gallego is usually tuned a little sharp, but I may have that backwards. I don't know what it would sound like if they were played together.
Also, the gaita gallega typically uses open fingering and the asturiana closed fingering. That makes a difference in kinds of ornamentation each is capable of. It's been a couple of years, but I'm pretty sure that Carlos told me that the asturiana can do more complex ornamentation.
On the other hand, the gallega is a lot easier to play than an asturiana. It's fingered much like a recorder or penny whistle. Anyone could learn the basics pretty easily. I have a friend in Asturias who plays a gallega on the streets as a busker (meaning that he puts out a hat while he plays for panhandling). He told me that no notices that he's playing a gaita gallega.
I think I'd rather play an asturiana.
I'll write to Xose in DC to see if he'd be interested in joining.
Un saludu candial,
Art
Hola a to@s,
Paul has raised two issues on punteiros.
I've learned most of what I know about gaitas from a few books and from Carlos Moreno García, a luthier who is also a member of www.asturianUS.org. (If you see something wrong in what I say, I'm certainly open to being corrected.)
Paul's right that to play with others, you have to be in the same key. As Paul has said, it's primarily the length of the punteiru (chanter) that determines which key it's in. I don't understand this, but the reeds have to match the key, too.
Actually, with a few exceptions, the roncones (drones) are usually limited to one key, too. (I know of one maker who makes a beautiful gaita gallega that can switch between C and D, but you have to have two punteiros. Most gaitas aren't made to switch keys.
If I recall correctly, modern Asturian gaita bands usually play in C or Bb. If we want to play with Corvera, for example, we need to use the same key they use. I think there's been a shift in which keys are used, so we need to ask about this.
It looked to me that the Corvera band's were all the same model, so they might be playing gaitas all made by the same constructor. That might make sense because, from the little I know with highland chanters, different brands can sound fairly different or even discordant.
The punteiru gallego and asturianu are different in fingering and even tonal qualities. I think Carlos told me that the gallego is usually tuned a little sharp, but I may have that backwards. I don't know what it would sound like if they were played together.
Also, the gaita gallega typically uses open fingering and the asturiana closed fingering. That makes a difference in kinds of ornamentation each is capable of. It's been a couple of years, but I'm pretty sure that Carlos told me that the asturiana can do more complex ornamentation.
On the other hand, the gallega is a lot easier to play than an asturiana. It's fingered much like a recorder or penny whistle. Anyone could learn the basics pretty easily. I have a friend in Asturias who plays a gallega on the streets as a busker (meaning that he puts out a hat while he plays for panhandling). He told me that no notices that he's playing a gaita gallega.
I think I'd rather play an asturiana.
I'll write to Xose in DC to see if he'd be interested in joining.
Un saludu candial,
Art
Art
ART
Natalia, Alberto,
I have the método by Guti and an old one by Xuacu Amieva (1998).
Carlos and others have told me that the método put out by the Consejeria de Educación is the best. Unfortunately, it's no longer available in print because each of the authors has their own books out now and they don't want the older (and better) book to compete with their own. I've heard that people photocopy it for their friends who want to learn.
I don't have the book but I do have cassettes for La Gaita Asturiana by the Consejeria de Educación. I could make copies for us if you don't have that. Maybe I can burn it on a CD with a little extra work figuring out how to do that.
I have a practice punteiru that Carlos made for me. I watched him make it and it was simply a matter of enlarging the holes of a plastic recorder. But I think a recorders in Spain may be different than the ones we have here. I think Carlos would make us some practice chanters quite cheaply. It only took him about 10 minutes to make one, I think.
There are electronic Asturian practice chanters, too, but they're pretty expensive.
Ta llueu,
Art
Natalia, Alberto,
I have the método by Guti and an old one by Xuacu Amieva (1998).
Carlos and others have told me that the método put out by the Consejeria de Educación is the best. Unfortunately, it's no longer available in print because each of the authors has their own books out now and they don't want the older (and better) book to compete with their own. I've heard that people photocopy it for their friends who want to learn.
I don't have the book but I do have cassettes for La Gaita Asturiana by the Consejeria de Educación. I could make copies for us if you don't have that. Maybe I can burn it on a CD with a little extra work figuring out how to do that.
I have a practice punteiru that Carlos made for me. I watched him make it and it was simply a matter of enlarging the holes of a plastic recorder. But I think a recorders in Spain may be different than the ones we have here. I think Carlos would make us some practice chanters quite cheaply. It only took him about 10 minutes to make one, I think.
There are electronic Asturian practice chanters, too, but they're pretty expensive.
Ta llueu,
Art
Paul / IS
PAUL / IS
Thanks for all the technical details, Art. Before we do anything about this, I think Alberto should ask Bras Rodrigo about the technical stuff. Will Alberto's gaita play on the same key as Art's and Natalia's? He can refer us to the luthier that did the bagpipes for his band. Then we can begin to think about ordering the instruments and see what turnaround would be like. I'll be going to Asturias for about 10 days on May 23rd, so I could bring them back with me. OK about not rounding up with the Galicians--it was just an idea that I thought might be nice. -Paul
Thanks for all the technical details, Art. Before we do anything about this, I think Alberto should ask Bras Rodrigo about the technical stuff. Will Alberto's gaita play on the same key as Art's and Natalia's? He can refer us to the luthier that did the bagpipes for his band. Then we can begin to think about ordering the instruments and see what turnaround would be like. I'll be going to Asturias for about 10 days on May 23rd, so I could bring them back with me. OK about not rounding up with the Galicians--it was just an idea that I thought might be nice. -Paul
Art
ART
Bones to@s
I'm sure that my gaita is a different key from the others and it's a gallega.
Do you want me to ask Carlos about the cost and time to deliver for making a batch of practice recorder/punteiros for us? The recorder he drills out to make them is very cheap, under 10 euros, so I don't think this would be expensive at all.
Fasta llueu,
Art
Bones to@s
I'm sure that my gaita is a different key from the others and it's a gallega.
Do you want me to ask Carlos about the cost and time to deliver for making a batch of practice recorder/punteiros for us? The recorder he drills out to make them is very cheap, under 10 euros, so I don't think this would be expensive at all.
Fasta llueu,
Art
Paul / IS
PAUL / IS
Oh, that's not a bad idea, Art. We could practice the fingering on the chanters first, right? And then jump into the full-fledged playing.
Let's do it. Why don't you contact Carlos first to ask about turnaround. Tell him I'll be going back to Asturies on May 23 for about 10 days. I can bring the chanters back in my suitcase.
By the way, Natalia, there's a girl from Xixon working at the Spanish embassy here in DC. Her name is Carola, a former sociology student. She speaks Asturian, from what I've heard, so I'm sure she'd be interested in our bagpipers' band. You may ask for her at the embassy through your contacts.
Paul
Oh, that's not a bad idea, Art. We could practice the fingering on the chanters first, right? And then jump into the full-fledged playing.
Let's do it. Why don't you contact Carlos first to ask about turnaround. Tell him I'll be going back to Asturies on May 23 for about 10 days. I can bring the chanters back in my suitcase.
By the way, Natalia, there's a girl from Xixon working at the Spanish embassy here in DC. Her name is Carola, a former sociology student. She speaks Asturian, from what I've heard, so I'm sure she'd be interested in our bagpipers' band. You may ask for her at the embassy through your contacts.
Paul