La Garriga hosts the 2nd hurdy-gurdy Festival of Catalonia
From October 23 to 25, La Garriga will become the Catalan capital of thehurdy-gurdy, a fascinating and almost magical instrument with more than a thousand years of history. The festival, organized by the Violes de Roda de Catalunya Association and the Mauri Foundation, was born with the desire to publicize this unique instrument and highlight the rich local heritage.
The link with the town is exceptional: the Mauri Foundation preserves the Gothic ashlars of the Girona Cathedral (14th century), a sculptural ensemble of enormous artistic and architectural value, which has been recently restored. Among its carvings is an angel playing a viola de roda, the oldest representation of the instrument preserved in Catalonia. This medieval treasure is the symbolic heart of the festival and the reason why La Garriga becomes a point of reference for its dissemination.
For three days, music and dissemination will fill emblematic spaces of the town:
PROGRAM FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24
- 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM – BETWEEN ANGELS AND BEGGARS (Entre àngels i captaires) at Maurí Foundation – 17 Cardedeu St.
An exhibition exploring the hurdy-gurdy within the history of art. Guided tours will be held in the morning to view the Gothic choir stalls, which preserve the oldest depiction of a hurdy-gurdy in Catalonia.
- Morning – HURDY-GURDY PLAYERS IN THE STREET, Town center squares and streets
Various musicians will perform music of different styles on the hurdy-gurdy.
- 6:00 PM – PEP MASSANA, La Doma – 1 Sant Esteve Ave.
Pep Massana revives the historical concept of simultaneously playing the violin and the organ using a unique instrument inspired by sketches by Leonardo da Vinci, adapting a Baroque music repertoire..
More information and contact:
festivalvioladeroda@gmail.com
Instagram @violaderodacat
