EncyclopediaBandurria

The bandurria is a plucked chordophone.

Description of the instrument

It has a pear-shaped soundboard with a window. The fretted neck comes out of the box. The headstock is at the top end of the neck and it is used to tune the instrument. The bandurria has six double strings stretched the headstock and the bridge.

Way of playing

The player holds the neck with one hand and presses the strings at the frets to give the notes. With the other hand, the strings are plucked, with a pick or plectrum more frequently than with the fingers, so that they vibrate and emit sound.

History

In Jesús Ramos’ work (1990), among the musicians presented at San Fermín in Pamplona in the 18th century, we find the following:

• "Juan Antonio de Andiarena - Bandurria - Donamaría - 1777-78" (p. 101).

Today in the Basque Country, string instruments of this type and rondalla or studentina-type string groups are rare. However, they were important in former times. They still exist, among others, in Lekeitio (Estudiantina) and Mundaka (Atorrak), as well as in the Ribera region of Navarra. The use of this type of musical instruments is still alive, with a genuine character and linked to the local culture, accompanying the jotas, for instance.

SOURCES

Bibliography

DONOSTIA, Aita. (1951). Música y Músicos en el País Vasco. Biblioteca Vascongada de los Amigos del País. San Sebastián. Obras Completas del P. Donostia. Bilbo: Ed. La Gran Enciclopedia Vasca.

RAMOS, Jesus. (1990). Materiales para la elaboración de un censo de músicos populares de Euskal Herria, a partir de los instrumentistas llegados a Iruñea en el Siglo XVIII. Cuadernos de Etnología y Etnografía de Navarra (55. zk., 91-138). Iruñea: Institución Principe de Viana.

Discography

BELTRAN ARGIÑENA, Juan Mari. (2017). Soinu-tresnak Euskal Herri Musikan. 1985-2010. Elkar-Soinuenea Fundazioa. CD DVD-E 968.

LEKEITIOKO ESTUDIANTINA. (1983). Aratuste Alai. IZ-185.

Filmography

BELTRAN ARGIÑENA, Juan Mari. (2017). Soinu-tresnak Euskal Herri Musikan. 1985-2010. Elkar-Soinuenea Fundazioa. CD DVD-E 968.