Txalaparta
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The txalaparta is a specialized Basque device of wood or stone. In Basque, zalaparta (with z) means "noise".
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Uses
Communication
Originally, the txalaparta was a communication device used by villagers to alert the countryside of a battle (guda in the Basque language), funeral (hileta), celebration (jai), or the making of cider (sagardo) or slaked lime (kare). The txalaparta has been used this way for millennia; the Romans described hearing rhythmic poundings on wood. What they were hearing was a defensive rallying call going up through the Pyrenees mountains. The Basques had tried to hold back the Roman armies, but the invaders triumphed. During the making of cider, the same board that pressed the apples, was beaten to summon the neighbours.
Music
The txalaparta today is a musical instrument used in Basque music. It is classified as an idiophone (a percussion instrument). In its traditional construction (known as the txalaparta zaharra), the txalaparta is made of pair of long wooden boards held up horizontally on two ends and then beat vertically with special drum sticks, makilak, held in the hands. On the two ends, between the long board and the supports, corn husks are placed for vibration. Music was made using the txalaparta by having one or more performers, known as txalapartariak, txalapartaris, or jotzaileak, produce differing rhythms, playing with wood ears for different tones. The txalaparta's musical use evolved out of its original use. Traditional txalaparta was almost extinct in the 1950s with a handful of couple of peasants maintaining the tradition. It was then revived by folklorists. Innovators started laboring the boards and assemblying boards to achieve some melody. Other materials were pressed into service. A txalaparta made of stone is known as a harriparta. The boards may be substituted with horizontal metal tubes. Big cardboard tubes can be beaten vertically on the floor. There are even recordings of ice blocks used experimentally in Scandinavia.
Beats
There are two distinctive types beats used on the txalaparta: the bikoa and the errena.
Players
The group Oreka TX ("Balance Tx(alaparta)") has txalapartas as their main instrument, combined with trikitixa accordions and other folk instruments. Kepa Junkera has arranged several pieces for them.
External links
- A picture of a txalaparta with makilak (http://www.tamborileros.com/tradiberia/img_instrum/Txalaparta.jpg)
- A picture of the txalaparta being played (http://www.basqueed.org/Images/Beltran3%20Txalaparta.jpg)
- The txalaparta in communication (http://www.bcbasque.com/HTMLfiles/txalaparta.htm)
- The txalaparta @ the Irish World Music Centre (http://www.ul.ie/~iwmc/research/txalaparta.html)
