Basque ethnography at a glance

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Source: Areatzako Banda.

In the same way that the goal of teaching literature is not to create writers, or the goal of physical education is not to become athletes, learning music does not mean creating musicians. In the Arratia Valley, music has been and is deeply rooted. Especially in Areatza, the love for music has been something that has existed for a long time thanks to the Areatza music band. This has led to the conclusion that there is a great musical knowledge among the population. This local band has managed to advance from generation to generation, facing various challenges and adapting to new times.

There are the first documents about the creation of the band in 1954, although citizens also remember other pioneer bands. The City Council of Areatza bought the instruments from the music band of Markina and appointed Lazaro Loperena as director of that “first” band. The latter, however, lacked musical knowledge and was dismissed for lack of progress. Cristóbal Marín Pulido, an andalusian military man, was the next director, together with the solfeggio teacher Recadero Zubiaga. For seven months, the students were trained musically and militarily and played the concert on the eve of Santa Cecilia (the first one). In 1960, this band disappeared.

Source: Kenare Fuli.

After Franco’s death, Juan José Ipiñazar realized that the percussion lacked melody and joined some members of the previous band. From that meeting the fanfare Kaixo was born and although at the beginning the objective was to accompany the tamborrada, they decided to create another band and a music school. In 1982 Ruper Lekue was in charge of getting the missing instruments to create the band in its entirety. Thanks to his musical studies he became the first director of the “second” Areatza band. In a few months they offered their first concert (St. Bartholomew’s Day 1983). The development of the band we know today is largely due to Ruper Lekue. After him was Jesús María Bilbao Estefanía, with a great musical contribution to the band. Then came Alain Sancho. This young conductor brought vitality and different projects. Then he had the first woman director of the band. Paula Pérez Bueno, also brought new actions and innovative projects.

Adjusting to the times and to reach different spectators, the band of Areatza is exercised with a multitude of new challenges, such as songs, musical groups and activities of different types. At present, the band is led by Aritz Labrador, whose main objective is to recover and add the appreciation of the neighbours of Areatza.

In short, all the directors that the band has had have marked a milestone in this musical group. Thanks to the commitment of its members, the constant work of the commission and the experiences such as the knowledge that the director shares with the band, this band is constantly changing. The members of the band form a group of friends from different generations, they are not there for money, they are not carrying out an imposed work and that creates a climate of union and friendship, giving them strength to continue and offering them the desire to face the different challenges that may arise. It can be said that the band of Areatza is a historical and cultural treasure that must be taken care of for a small town like Areatza.

Kenare Fuli Echezarraga Petralanda

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