EncyclopediaTobera

The tobera is a directly struck idiophone.

Description of the instrument

Although there are several variants, the most common form is usually the following: a steel lever of approximately one and a half meters, hanging by ropes at both ends, held by two people. Four steel rods of about 30 cm are used to play the lever.

Way of playing

There are two dressers. They have two steel rods each, one in each hand. the two they play a game similar to that of the txalaparta. In Lesaka, they call “bia” (two) the one who sets the pace, and the other “pikatzailea” or “errepikia”; The latter in Oiartzun is called "bata" (one). A koplari-bertsolari accompanies them; interspersed with the instrumental performances, he sings old verses typical of the toberak, verses prepared for the performance and also improvised at the moment.

History

This "variant" of the txalaparta (whose is also sometimes confused and appears with that of the txalaparta) is not a simple sound instrument, but also an event that takes place in festive environments.

The sessions of the toberak appeared in situations similar to those of the txalaparta, but lately, until the beginning of the 20th century, it had its main function associated with the marriage celebrations, in the surroundings of Lesaka and Oiartzun. In Lesaka they played the day of the Pregon (reprimands) and in Oiartzun during the wedding celebrations.

The group of young people, usually with the crowbar loaded on the back, approached the house of the bride or the house where the wedding was taking place. There, in front of the door, they would drive the lever into the ground, often decorated with ribbons and flowers. To play it, they took it out of the ground and hung it at both ends.

At wedding performances, couplets were sung interspersed with the instrumentals. These could be old, created for the occasion or improvised. To do this, a capable person was chosen, and the gang sang this refrain from time to time:

San Martin de la Moja

Moja de San Martin.

Toberak jo ditzagun

Ordu onarekin;

Ordu onarekin ta

Birjin Amarekin.

San Martin de la Moja

Moja de San Martin.

Let's play the toberak

In good time;

In good time and

With the Virgin Mother.

Or this other:

San Martin de la Monje

Monje de San Martin

Toberak jo ditzagun

Ordu on batekin

Ordu on batekin da

Birjina amarekin

Bitarteko bat hartu

Dezagun San Juakin.

San Martin de la Monje

Monk of Saint Martin

Let's play the toberak

In good time;

In good time and

With the Virgin Mother

Let's take a

San Juaquín aperitif.

When finished, they entered the house of the couple and had dinner or ate and drank something.

Such events were also held in the lime kilns. People got together to make lime, and at night, with the fires lit, the party called "karobi eztaia" (lime wedding) was celebrated. This was completed with dinner, bertsolari, irrintzi and music, also playing the txalaparta.

Current situation

Nowadays, the toberak are used mixed with the txalaparta, and there are more and more interpreters, who are more constant and more and more skilled, in different parts of the Basque Country.

SOURCES

Bibliography

BELTRAN ARGIÑENA, Juan Mari. (1996). Soinutresnak euskal herri musikan. Hernani: Orain.

(2004). Txalaparta eta beste aldaera zaharrak. La txalaparta. Antecedentes y variantes. La txalaparta, origines et variantes. The txalaparta. Forerunners and variants. Oiartzun: Herri Musika Bilduma, 3. HM Txokoa.

(2005). El misterio de la txalaparta. Lur. arte, gastronomía, guía. nº 5. Primavera. Pág. 21.

(2007). Hernaniko txalaparta eskolaren 11 ikasturte. Jentilbaratz 9. Cuadernos de Folklore, 9. Donostia: Eusko Ikaskuntza.

(2009). Txalaparta. (liburua+CD+DVD). Donostia-San Sebastián: Editorial Nerea/NO-CD Rekords.

DONOSTIA, Aita. (1924). Toberak. Obras Completas del P. Donostia. (Tomo I, 71-90). Bilbo: La Gran Enciclopedia Vasca.

(1952). Instrumentos Musicales Populares Vascos. Obras Completas del P. Donostia. (Tomo II, 257-309). Bilbo: Ed. La Gran Enciclopedia Vasca.

LEKUONA, Manuel. (1920). El Epitalamio Vasco- Las toberas. Idaz-lan Guztiak, 365-378. Tolosa: Kardaberaz Bilduma - 23. 1978.

(1978). Toberak eta Txalaparta. Idaz-lan Guztiak, 359-363. Tolosa: Kardaberaz Bilduma - 23. 1978.

Discography

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

ZUAZNABARTARRAK. (1975). Antología de instrumentos vascos. Columbia BC 3896.

VARIOS. (1972). Lesaka. Herrikoi-musika sorta, 10. Donostia: Edigsa-Herri Gogoa. HG-48.

Filmography

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