In the cozy interior of the Teatro Principal, the lights were delicately dimmed, preparing to receive an experience that would transcend cultures and borders. The air vibrated with an exotic and mysterious promise as the stage began to come to life, ready to accommodate the fascinating symphony of traditional sounds from an extravagant country with a huge cultural heritage: Indonesia. In this far away corner of the Iberian Peninsula, more than 300 ethnic groups come together with their respective melodies and instruments, making it a territory with enormous cultural wealth and an abysmal variety of traditions.
It was the university league ‘Krida Budaya’, a band born from the union between the main faculties of the country with the purpose of recovering the ancestral dances and melodies of the region. They were the ones who offered a fascinating show yesterday morning where passion was intertwined with the emotion of the public, forming a unique synergy. It was a concert like no other, a musical journey that transported everyone to distant Indonesia, where ancient instruments and captivating melodies revealed the essence of such a complex culture. “Indonesian music is different, it has very specific meanings that can be difficult to understand, for example the celebration of a very specific harvest,” explained Elsa Septiyana, a member of the band.
This is how, accompanied by instruments as exotic as gongs, the reyong or bronze teapots and drums of all sizes and types, the group managed to weave a huge cultural bridge that left language barriers aside. The delicate voices of the women merged with the powerful melodies sung by the men, to transport each of the spectators to the most unusual corner of islands such as Bali or Java. His compositions, which depending on the region they come from can have Arabic, elegant, pagan and rural influences, were always sung from the ground and in large groups, as tradition dictates. «We all play the instruments together and sit down to be in contact with the earth. We receive everything from her and it is a way of giving back what she gives us,” said Ragil Putra, a member of the university league.
For their part, the members of the group are very happy to have been able to transport the magic of traditional Indonesian music to the citizens of Burgos, making the theater a sanctuary of shared emotions and a reminder of the beauty inherent in cultural diversity. “We really feel very respected here. For the Spanish public, this is usually the first time they have seen this type of performance, so they are curious and admiring and pay close attention, and that is an honor”, stressed Ragil Putra.
To continue with the 45th International Folklore Festival, throughout today new morning workshops will be held with musicians from Uganda, at 12 noon in the Monastery of San Juan; de Colombia, at 12:30 in the historic center and at 1:00 p.m. in the Teatro Principal. At night, starting at 9:00 p.m., the Plaza de San Juan will host the culture and dances of groups from Georgia and Madrid, as well as the Amigos de la Dulzaina cultural association from Burgos.
2023-07-14 13:14:02
#Exotic #rhythms #theater
