Humus Mediterrani, the new “Off”-Fira Mediterrània series, debuts with eight concerts rooted in tradition

HUMUS MEDITERRANI, Manresa’s new “Off”-FIRA MEDITERRÀNIA series sponsored by culinary and musical space D’ARREL, has scheduled eight concerts that include traditional music student bands to folk groups from Bages and others from across the Països Catalans (Catalan-speaking world). A fascinating and diverse proposal with a line-up rooted in tradition that ranges from up-and-coming musicians to established groups.

HUMUS MEDITERRANI, Manresa’s new “Off”-FIRA MEDITERRÀNIA series sponsored by culinary and musical space D’ARREL, has scheduled eight concerts that include traditional music student bands to folk groups from Bages and others from across the Països Catalans (Catalan-speaking world). A fascinating and diverse proposal with a line-up rooted in tradition that ranges from up-and-coming musicians to established groups.

One of the new elements offered by HUMUS MEDITERRANI are the children and youth groups learning to play traditional Catalan music either at a music school or privately. These groups are the future of traditional Catalan music and HUMUS MEDITERRANI offers three concerts that showcase their talent:

  • Mans Petites is a group formed by 6 to 9 year old Traditional Instruments students at Tarragona’s Municipal School of Music who play the clarinet, drum, tarota, tible (types of Catalan shawms), bagpipes, flute and diatonic accordion. A pioneering project in Catalonia that involves students, teachers and luthiers.
  • Les Violiles are Aina Moliner and Joana Gumà, two 15-year-old female violinists accompanied by other musicians like the young Blai Gumí on bass. The duo’s sound is as fresh as an Irish breeze, as powerful as a dance of the Catalan gegants (giants) and as playful as American country music.
  • SONAGRALLA is a group of students from different traditional Catalan music schools currently studying the clarinet and drum ensemble at the AMTP in Tarragona. The group works under the direction of Roser Olivé and Pere Olivé.

Two groups from Bages have been included on the HUMUS line-up:

  • NAKKI offers a repertoire entitled Fet a mà (Handmade), with original creations based on traditional music and beyond, with a unique sound thanks to a blend of traditional and modern instruments. A musical discourse rich in dialogues and fusion, made in Bages.
  • D’aquí i d’allà is a group that has recently come together in Bages to make traditional music as a way to get people to practice traditional dances. And they’ve succeeded.

The programme includes other groups from across the Països Catalans that offer engaging concerts ranging from traditional music from around the world to creations with notes of Mediterranean roots and the most explosive festival music from Valencia.

  • Barcelona Ethnic Band, a group of seven young musicians from around Barcelona with jazz and classical backgrounds, brings audiences closer to traditional music from around the world. Concert-goers will have the chance to hear songs from countries across the globe including Armenia, Norway, Macedonia, Turkey, Tunisia and Brazil.
  • LA COLÒNIA is a group led by Xavier Ciurans (Gertrudis) and Albert Galcerà (Garbuix), who play their own songs with their own unique style of music, a mix of Balkan flavours, hints of cabaret and notes of Mediterranean roots, brought together through various artistic disciplines.
  • Folkifesta is a traditional folk music group from the Horta region who aim to raise the dolçaina to a more privileged position beyond its use as a street instrument and at traditional festivals. The group is accompanied by other instruments like the accordion, tuba, euphonium, flutes, percussion and keyboards. The name says it all: Folkifesta’s music is a party (festa in Catalan).

About the name HUMUS MEDITERRANI

HUMUS is the layer of soil that contains the most biological life and nourishes the seeds that sprout roots and then plants. Applied to folk and traditional music the “humus” is formed by those anonymous people who have preserved or created traditional music and songs, amateur groups who practice around the country and the hundreds of students and apprentices of traditional Catalan music schools across the Països Catalans. The HUMUS MEDITERRANI programme aims to showcase all those people that make up Catalan music’s “humus”.

The concerts will be held during the four days of the Fira, with two concerts on both Thursday and Friday, three on Saturday and a final concert on Sunday morning. All shows are free.

HUMUS MEDITERRANI is an initiative of D’ARREL, a culinary and musical space on Carrer Sobrerroca in Manresa that offered the first ongoing traditional and folk music programme in Manresa and Central Catalonia over the 2012-2013 course.

Fira Mediterrània of Manresa cooperates in the promotion of this initiative.