2021
In memory of Iparragirre
Erribera kulturgunea (Astigarraga) - 30/01/2021, 19:00
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Agur zaharra (S. Salaberri) // Ave, Maria (J. Guridi) // Iru Errege (J. Guridi) // Goizeko izarra (J. J. Santesteban) // Saratarra (J. M. Glez. Bastida) // San Juan zortzikoa (E . Mocoroa) // Maite, eguzki eder (P. Sorozabal) // Euskalerria (P. Sorozabal) // Iparragirreren lau abesti (J. A. Santesteban): Kantari euskalduna - Nere maitiarentzat - Nere amak baleki - Adio Euskalerriari // Ara nun diran ( JM Glez. Bastida) // Zugana, Manuela (T. Garbizu) // Nere maitiarentzat (J. J. Santesteban) // CHANTON PIPERRI: Scene and final hymn (B. Zapirain) // Aurtxoa seaskan (G. Olaizola) // Gernikako arbola (E. Gorosarri)
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Pianist : Ignacio Arakistain
ERAGIYOK kicked off 2021 with a concert in Erribera kulturgunea. It was ERAGIYOK's first solo performance in the new auditorium in Astigarraga, after having participated a few months earlier in the inauguration of the new auditorium together with other local groups.
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The performance was scheduled for December, but the restrictions imposed on choirs as a result of covid-19 led to the delay. However, the concert could not be held under normal conditions due to, among other reasons, the mobility restrictions that prevailed on that date and which prevented residents from towns other than Astigarraga from coming to the concert.
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The first part alternated between sacred music and Basque folklore, with works that had not been performed by ERAGIYOK in Astigarraga until then. Among them, it is worth highlighting Iru Errege by Jesús Guridi, the melody he adapted for male voices; a marvellous piece that combines the characteristics of Christmas carols and sacred music.
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This first block ended with two songs by Pablo Sorozabal, Maite, eguzki eder and Euskalerria. These served as a bridge to the tribute to Jose María Iparragirre, as they deal with two themes that the trobadour from Urretxu worked on: women and the Basque Country.
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In 2020, the 200th anniversary of the singer's birth had been celebrated, and the choir wanted to remember his life and songs, with arrangements made by various composers. They began with Iparragirreren lau abesti, where four passages from the bard's life were recreated in the voice of four soloists, and with the piano accompaniment of Ignacio Arakistain. These four sequences were followed by the last three songs on the programme.
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Finally, the audience listened to the final scene of the Basque opera Chanton Piperri. In this scene that proclaims the twinning of the Basques, Mikel Zapiain (Chanton Piperri), Ramon Santxez (Lazkano) and Iñaki Calleja (Berastegui) acted as soloists, giving way to the final hymn of the work, Euskalerriko semiak gera.
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At the time of the encores, a sweet Aurtxoa seaskan served to lower the pulse rate before ending, as it could not be otherwise, with the hymn in the form of a zortziko that Iparragirre left to the Basques, Gernikako arbola.
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Iparragirreren lau abesti
The bard from Urretxu had a life full of ups and downs, as was staged in the suite that spun four moments of his life.
After feeling defeated after the First Carlist War, Iparraguirre travelled all over Europe with no other company than an old guitar. Markel Azkue intoned the experiences of this young man.
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Then it was time for the Iparragirre in love. Women occupy a preferential place in his catalogue of works, and one of them was heard in the voice of Ramon Santxez, who narrated how he met a beautiful young woman in Donostia (Ume eder bat or Nere maitiarentzat).
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Before being banished from the Basque Country, Iparragirre once again wrote verses full of bitterness in the dungeon; Antonio Calleja sang them ardently in Nere amak baleki.
Finally, the farewell of an Iparragirre who was leaving the Basque Country in the hope of returning soon, Adio Euskalerriari in the voice of Mikel Zapiain. It would be 17 years before his return.
Winners at the FICC in Barcelona!
56th Barcelona International Choir Festival
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The Catalan Federation of Choral Entities (FCEC) declared ERAGIYOK the winner of the International Choral Singing Festival in the category of equal voices, which was the choir's second prize, after winning the Errenteria Provincial Christmas Carol Competition in 2018.
Covid-19 has mercilessly hit all areas of society, affecting the health situation and daily life. Choirs were direct witnesses of this last circumstance, as they saw their activity severely limited and even prohibited.
In this context, many of the festivals, competitions and meetings that are organised annually were suspended or had to modify their format in 2020 and 2021. This is what happened with the FICC. The event organised every year by the FCEC announced a special format for the 2021 edition, opting for an in-person cycle with local choirs and an international online video competition.
Each of the contestants had to choose and present two pieces performed in the previous two years: one sacred music and another corresponding to the folklore of each country. ERAGIYOK entered the category of equal voices and selected for the occasion two works sung at the Antxon Sierra Oroituz festival in San Sebastian: Agur, Maria by Pascual Aldave and Ara nun diran by José María González Bastida.
Among all the participating groups, the jury declared three choirs as finalists in this category. ERAGIYOK thus faced two white-voice choirs in the final: the Female Choir Lepos from Lithuania ( O salutaris hostia by Donatas Zakaras and Bijunélis by Gedimino Kalino) and the Béla Bartók Female Choir from Hungary (Salve, Regina by Miklós Kocsár and Ének Szent István királyhoz by Zoltan Kodály).
The festival was held between 5 and 11 July and during that week the participants' videos were shown on the Federation's YouTube channel. To top it off, the jury made up of five members (Andrea Angelinini, Bernat Vivancos, Daniel Mestre, Maria Guinand and Montserrat Ríos) announced the winners of each category through a live broadcast on YouTube.
It is worth noting that another Basque choir, Ganbara Abesbatza, qualified for the final day in the mixed voices category. The Oñati-based group won the award for the best performance of a work composed or arranged by a Catalan musician, with Salve, Regina by Josep Vila i Casanas.
Musikaste 49
49th Basque Music Week 'Musikaste' - Lekuona Fabrika (Errenteria) - 22/10/2022, 19:00
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ERAGIYOK: Pequeña suite vasca (T. Aragüés Bayarte): Ene emaztea - Joan nintzen Ainoara // Oi lore maitea (T. Aragüés Bernad) // Alkar-izketan (L. Aramburu). Cond.: Eneko Amundarain
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DONOSTI ERESKI ABESBATZA: Bone Pastor (D. Azurza) // Nere herriko neskatza maite (J. Aizpuru) // Itsasoa gara (X. Sarasola) // Zure magalera (E. Ugalde). Cond.: Jon Aizpuru, Jokin Otamendi
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LANDARBARSO ABESBATZA: Mare nostrum (J. Elberdin) // Zoriontasun hitzak (L. Jekabsone) // Txoria Txori (M. Bautista). Cond.: Iñaki Tolaretxipi
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ANDRA MARI ABESBATZA: Orain berrogei urte (I. Casalí) // Adiyo probintziya (J. Elberdin) // Hiru euskal doinu (X. Sarasola). Cond.: Andoni Sierra
ENCORE : Euskal musikaren gorespena (J. Uruñuela)
In a week with nine concerts between October 15 and 23, the Lekuona Fabrika auditorium hosted Musikaste's choral day for the first time.
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Both singers and audience were eager to try out the features of the new Errenteria facility. A palpable proof of this was the almost full capacity that the auditorium registered with 150 singers and more than 400 spectators. The sound checks prior to the concert helped clear up doubts: it would be a demanding scenario, since such an open space tests the choirists.
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In the pre-established order, ERAGIYOK was the first to appear on stage, as well as the only group that performed a cappella, without instrumental accompaniment. The first two songs were works by the composers of the Aragüés family, father and son: Pequeña suite vasca and Oi lore maitea . These two pieces had been performed for the first time at the Saint Ignatius Day concert held in Astigarraga, and the work carried out from then until the Musikaste event was notable.
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His last work was Alkar-izketan by Luis Aramburu, a very poorly programmed work that had the premiere version it deserved from ERAGIYOK.
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Next, Donosti Ereski received tribute from Musikaste on its 50th anniversary. In addition to the adaptations of two well-known songs by Benito Lertxundi and Ken Zazpi, Bone Pastor by David Azurza (with María Martín as soloist) and the premiere of Eva Ugalde's work, Zure magalera, could be heard.
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Landarbaso offered a varied show. Their voices were joined by the violin, the accordion and two Oinkari dancers in Zoriontasun hitzak , which was the most applauded piece of their intervention.
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The last turn corresponded to Andra Mari Abesbatza. They began with versions of two groups of verses, some dedicated to Errenteria (Orain berrogei urte ) and others to Gipuzkoa (Adiyo probintziya ), to end with Hiru euskal doinu by Xabier Sarasola.
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Although it was initially planned that each choir would leave the auditorium after their performance, the relaxation of Covid restrictive measures allowed for a joint finale. With Andra Mari Abesbatza still on stage and the rest of the choirs from the stalls, they all sang together what is Eresbil's anthem, Euskal musikaren gorespena, as they have been doing since the late 80s. An exciting end to the great choir festival.
Centennial of Salbatore Deuna Abesbatza
Musika Parrokian Cycle - Church of San Salvador (Getaria) - 27/11/2021, 20:30
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Xto zmolknul viezie glaz? (P. Tchaikovsky) // Maite-mina (J. M. Glez. Bastida) // Elurra (S. Jaroff) // Vechernij zvon (S. Jaroff) // Ey, ukhnem! (S. Jaroff) // Agur, Maria (P. Aldave) // Illunabarra (R. Sarriegi) // Zugana, Manuela (T. Garbizu) // Kitolis (L. Aramburu) // Maitasun atsekabea (J. Guridi) // Kanta berri (P. Sorozabal) // Aurtxoa seaskan (G. Olaizola) // Saratarra (J. M. Glez. Bastida) // Boga, boga (J. Guridi) // Gora Elkano! (G. Landazabal)
100 years is not an everyday occurrence and Salbatore Deuna Abesbatza celebrated this happy anniversary with a great choral cycle to which ERAGIYOK was invited. The affection of the audience gathered in the church of San Salvador resulted in one of the most moving concerts of the year.
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After postponing the celebrations to 2021, the members of the choir started up various activities: publication of a book on the centenary history of the choir, the release of a record and the organisation of the Musika Parrokian cycle in the months of November and December. For the latter, they invited several choirs from the Basque Country to complete a renowned line-up.
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Russian music
As for ERAGIYOK's performance, the main novelty fell on the first part of the concert. The expectation that Russian songs generate in the Basque Country is known. Some of them have had adaptations into Basque and are very well known, such as Elurra and Maite-mina , which were already part of the choir's repertoire.
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However, it performed others for the first time and in their original language. Among them were Vechernij zvon (Evening Bells ), the nostalgic song of the son who has abandoned his homeland, and Ey, ukhnem! (Song of the Volga Boatmen), which recalls the song of the servicemen. In the latter there was the debut of a new soloist in the choir, the bass Andoni Rodríguez.
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Emotion remembering the past and present
The second part was made up of Basque music, and one of the most special moments of the night occurred in Kitolis . The choir had a special double remembrance, as in the work itself. They remembered, in the most tragic part, Andoni Galarraga, who died in a work accident, and in the most festive part, the great victories of the local trawler Esperantza in 2021.
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Once the official program was over, it was time to exchange souvenirs. Salbatore Deuna Abesbatza presented ERAGIYOK with the centenary book and a beautiful embroidered commemorative txapela. For its part, ERAGIYOK reciprocated by offering a wood carving that read: "May your music and songs accompany us for another hundred years."
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At the end of the encores, they remembered another of Getaria's favourite daughters, Pepita Embil. In her youth she sang in Salbatore Deuna Abesbatza, and her career continued in the Eresoinka choir, before embarking on a successful life as a soloist. In her voice, Aurtxoa seaskan was heard for the first time in Paris, and her memory and the sweetness of the lullaby thrilled the audience.
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Gora Elkano!
Being in Getaria, the concert could not end in any other way but then Gora Elkano de Landazabal. The song sung solemnly by the choir drew applause from a standing audience. An unbeatable ending to a concert that will last in our memory!
Otxote Festival in Cambo
Otxote Festival - Saint-Laurent Church (Cambo-les-Bains) - 15/10/2021, 21:00
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ENARA OTXOTEA : Euskal lurreko (G. Lerchundi) // Nere maite polita (Popular ) // Luna Tucumana (A. Yupanqui) // Izar ederrak (J. Elberdin) // Bring me little water, Silvy (HW Ledbetter) // Fandango - Arin-arin (Popular). Cond.: Jordi Freixa
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ERAGIYOK: Otche Nash (N. Kedrov) // Otoya (M. Moreno) // Kitolis (L. Aramburu) // Maitasun atsekabea (J. Guridi) // Saratarra (JM Glez. Bastida) // Kanta berri (P. Sorozabal). Cond.: Eneko Amundarain
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KARNABA OTXOTEA: Oh, nere kabiya! (P. Sorozabal) // Ezpondan (J. Elberdin) // Souliko (J. M. Glez. Bastida) // Ürzo luma (P. Sorozabal) // Oh, Pepita (A. Müller) // Axuri beltza (J. Busto) . Cond.: Sergio Zapirain
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ALL: Agur, jaunak (Popular)
We were looking forward to seeing the ochotes in Cambo! After a two-year break, the Saint-Laurent church was packed to the rafters.
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To begin the evening, Jordi Freixa, director of Ochote Enara and artistic advisor to the festival, wanted to thank the groups gathered there for the effort made to end the hiatus that the festival had suffered.
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His initial message gave way to Ochote Enara, which offered a varied repertoire. Perhaps because these are songs less heard in the octave repertoire, it was beautiful to hear the adaptation of Luna Tucumana , by the great Argentine musician Atahualpa Yupanqui, as well as the spiritual Bring me little water, Sylvie by Ledbetter.
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Next, it was ERAGIYOK's turn. Free of the mask for the first time in a long time, and taking advantage of the acoustics of the temple, they presented a high-level program. The entire performance was well received, but two moments stood out.
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In Kitolis the tragic story of the protagonist converges with the emotion of the zortziko and the ezpatadantza that the people who are in fiestas sing and dance. His performance provoked a passionate reaction from the audience; the choir as a whole, and soloists Markel Azkue and Antonio Calleja in particular, received a standing ovation.
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The climax came with Kanta berri. This “humorous song,” as Maestro Sorozabal described it, is one of the most appreciated in the male choir repertoire. On this first occasion that it was performed by ERAGIYOK, it deserved the longest ovation of the evening.
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Finally, it was the turn of Karnaba. The group from Errenteria combined contemporary works such as Ezpondan and Axuri beltza with great classics such as Oh, Pepita.Ochotes and audience ended up singing Agur, jaunak in unison.
A golden brooch for the night in which the ochotes returned to Cambo.
