Traditional music and dance
The Catalan coastline is, like the rest of the region, a land rich in music. The havaneres, nostalgic songs in Catalan or Spanish with Creole rhythms, were originally sung by sailors on their way to the Cuban war of independence (1895-1898). They still resound in Calafell during the Cantada d'Havaneres
, held on the beach and attracting a huge crowd.Although it originated in Barcelona, the Catalan rumba has spread over time and is often found on the coast. This variant of flamenco rumba with Cuban and mambo influences was embodied in the 1960s by Peret, the icon of the genre, as well as Gato Pérez and El Pescaílla. The brass band is still firmly rooted in popular culture. Established at the end of the 19th century, it can be found in almost every village in southern Catalonia, with all the bands competing with each other in a good-natured way, playing trumpets and drums in public celebrations. In the Terres de l'Ebre, the brass bands of Amposta (Lira Ampostina or Unió Filharmònica d'Amposta) and La Sénia are among the most famous.
As for dances, it is impossible to miss the sardana in Catalonia, the most famous traditional dance of the region. Although the world discovered it during the opening ceremony of the 1992 Olympic Games, the sardana was born in the middle of the 19th century, under the impulse of a musician from Figueres, Pep Ventura. It has remained relatively the same since then and sees dancers - alternating if possible a man and a woman - holding hands in a closed circle and linking short and long steps. The Sardana is always accompanied by the music of the cobla, a typical Catalan open-air ensemble of about ten musicians and some traditional instruments such as the flabiol (recorder), the tenora and the tible (two kinds of oboes) and the tambori
(a drum).The emblematic dance of Terres de l'Ebre is, of course, the famous jota de l'Ebre. Danced in a line or in a round, the jota de l'Ebre sees its basic step digressing as it goes along, while the upper body executes lateral movements, arms at shoulder level, while marking the rhythm with finger snaps or castanets. The Jota de l'Ebre also includes improvised songs with lyrics about love, faith, homeland, regional nostalgia, and even claims about the harshness of rural life. The jota
is often danced on the occasion of the patronal celebrations, especially in Tortosa, and is always highlighted in events such as the folklore festival of Roquetes, Tradicionarius. Let's not forget to mention the Ball Parlat, which for two weeks in mid-May becomes the sole focus of attention in Salomó, a small village inland from Tarragona. This very old type of dance that has its roots in the Middle Ages and that incorporates the word (the term means "spoken dance") is since 1999 a cultural practice recognized by the government of Catalonia as part of the Heritage of National Interest.Classical music
Catalonia is a fertile ground that has seen the growth of some of the country's most renowned composers, such as Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909), a pioneering pianist in the renaissance of Spanish music, as well as Enrique Granados (1867-1916) and the pianist Federico Mompou (1893-1987) among contemporaries. The region has also produced some great national voices: first of all the two Montserrat, the immense Caballé (1933-2018) and the lesser known but equally fabulous Montserrat Figueras, as well as the soprano Victoria de Los Angeles (1923-2005) or the tenor José Carreras.
If we zoom in on the Costa Daurada, the region was the birthplace of its greatest cellist: the famous Pau Casals (1876-1973). Also a conductor and composer, this native of El Vendrell (whose former home is now a museum) remains one of the most remarkable Spanish musicians of the 20th century. An activist for peace, democracy, freedom and human rights, he composed the United Nations Hymn in honor of the UN (where it remains the unofficial anthem), for which he received the Peace Medal
Opposite the Pau Casals Museum is thePau Casals Auditorium, inaugurated in 1981. The auditorium, which has a capacity of up to 400 spectators, offers performances throughout the year in various cycles, from jazz to dance, culminating in the Pau Casals International Music Festival, a celebration of the local genius.
On the other hand, on the Catalan coast, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Barcelona y Nacional de Cataluña, which is the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, is also one of the most prestigious in the country. Its headquarters are located in the very modern Auditori. This is an opportunity to recall a Catalan peculiarity: Wagnerism. A singular manifestation of Art Nouveau, Wagner's work influenced many local musicians in their work during the first quarter of the 20th century. So much so that Barcelona was considered one of the most "Wagnerian" cities in the world.
