Contemporary sound experimentation

 

Jose Ignazio ANSORENA
& Joserra SENPERENA

Euskal
Danbolinaren Aroak

GH-305

 

 

Pedagogical
session, historical claim, and contemporary sound experimentation at the same
time. “Euskal Danbolinaren Aroak”
(the
stages of the Basque txistu and drum) reflects Joserra Senperena
and Piter Ansorena performance at
Igartza Palace in Beasain on April 8, 2021. Continuing “Chillida-Lekutik”
(from
Txillida-Leku live)
record released in 2006 achieving a deep and exhaustive investigation that has lasted
several months, offering a wonderful opportunity to taste the results with all
the attention that its delicate nuances and blends require.

The tamboril
or “danbolina”, refers to the combination of a txistu (Basque pipe) played with one hand and a small
drum that is hit with the other hand. Originally from somewhere in Europe in
the 12th century, it spread to all surrounding countries in a short time. Over
the course of hundreds of years, it gained enormous prestige and popular
success and has suffered other stages mired in oblivion and utter contempt.
Through a scholarly and revealing historical journey Piter and Joseba, they
subtly reach the core of each composition, its purest essence and the warm
cooing of the piano are presented to us with a surprising beauty that is almost
alien to us. The 12 pieces on the album are samples of this fruitful dialog where
we can find dance rhythms from 1872, sophisticated the enlightenment era compositions,
verbenas and romerías in Carlist times arrangements, chaste tributes to Basque
traditions and Christian morals with contemporary fresh experiments.

 

Joserra Senperena has traveled through pop, blues and jazz paths
and released numerous records along his career. Among others he has
collaborated with artists such as Harkaitz Cano, Patxi Zubizarreta, Jose Luis
Zumeta, Dora Salazar, Rafael Berrio, Kirmen Uribe, Elvira Sastre, Michel
Gaztambide, Arantxa Urretabizkaia or Roger Wolfe and has been part of 21 Japonesas,
Duncan Dhu, La Buena Vida, Amateur and Bide Ertzean in the Basque Country and
at the state level has participated in records and live performances from
Joaquín Sabina, Quique González, Fito & Fitipaldis, Coque Malla, Jarabe de
Palo or Ivan Ferreiro.

Jose Ignazio “Piter” Ansorena, has devoted most of his work to
popular music and despite his extraordinary knowledge and musical prowess, he
is best known among the general public for his clown and showman facet. Anyway,
his outstanding curriculum starts winning the I. Championship of Txistularis
(txistu players) held in Donostia in 1979.  Txistularis academy teacher and director for
many years, he has researched the txistu tune techniques and its pedagogy like
no one else, being author of several reference books and developing an
extensive and influential documenting work about popular rhythms and melodies.
As a soloist he has recorded several albums along with the Bilbo and Basque
Symphony Orchestra, as well as pianist Joserra Senperena and Alvaro Cendoya.

 

The
colorful and enriching diversity on this record reflects the duo´s wisdom and
experience, but the most important and perhaps most valuable about what it brings
is the ability and talent to radiate that unexplained freshness to the one who
listens or plays a melody for the very first time.  It’s probably that same wisdom and experience
that allows them to weave their dialog with such delicate sensitivity and get
excited, making us feel that those old tunes are, once again, totally new to
us.