Language of Sound

Today at Berria:

A whole world in the language of sound

Players from Portugal, France and Ireland and many generations from different parts of the Basque Country performed at the 2nd International Diatonic Accordion Festival in Donostia yesterday. There was a wonderful atmosphere in the Kursaal concert hall, which was full to bursting

Ainara Gorostitzu – DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

The diatonic accordion (the “Trikiti” in Basque) is international. That playful little instrument originated in Italy and Germany, spread to Ireland and Portugal and came to us like butterflies. It is the voice of international language and a fitting festival was held in the Kursaal Concert Hall of Donostia (San Sebastian) yesterday. Kike Amonarriz, accompanied by Joxepa Madariaga, did the presentation and said, “We wanted to bring the world to the Kursaal. This is because we are citizens of the world and because we find it easy to appreciate what a Portuguese, a French person or an Irish person feels when he or she hears this little sound.” By welcoming the whole world the small concert hall was bursting at the seams. A welcome for the little diatonic accordion, the “Trikiti”, also known as the bellows of hell.

The Astiasaran brothers, Epelarre and Etxeberritxo played mischievously alongside Juan Mari Beltran’s clarinet-like “dultzaina”. The tambourine players competed with each other to the rhythm of the sound to the delight of the audience. One with a blue rinse, the other bald, they played and played together like fighting rams with one of the Astiasarans hitting out with his head, feet and arms and Etxeberritxo responding with his elbows and playing with both his right and left hands. They teased each other and conspired with the audience. One tambourine player would start, the other would respond, they played in a dialogue, in a conversation, in an argument. The audience clapped and enjoyed their dancing and twirling around. Some of the people had to sit on the stairs, because the auditorium was full.

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