Juan Mari Beltran: An accomplished Basque musician makes a stop during his North American Tour in Boise

2007/09/03

News
kultura

Boiseans enjoyed a night on the Basque Block with entertainment from an accomplished Basque Musician, Juan Mari Beltran. Beltran has taught music for many years in the Basque Country, he has recorded several albums, and introduced antique instruments back into the world of popular music. Beltran and his band of multiple musicians are part of a cultural tour made possible by help from the Basque Autonomous Government of Euskadi and several American Basque Communities. This particular tour includes the cities of Boise, Seattle and Vancouver.

Beltrans first stop and performance on this particular tour was in Boise for the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Studies fundraiser. While feasting on a lamb dinner guests enjoyed Beltrans unique sounds. Members of the band played traditional yet contemporary style music using several instruments including the ancient txalaparta (wood-planks), alboka, txistu-ttunttuna (flute), trikitixa (diatonic accordion), panderoa (tambourine), and tamboril

(drums), with fiddle, accordion and other more contemporary instruments.

[Juan Mari Beltran's band is known for playing antique and contempory musical instruments]

Thanks to the Basque Government, a special fund was established to send Basque performers overseas. The goal is to provide educational based enjoyment that would otherwise not be available to Basques living abroad. The cultural tour introduces new artists to Basques around the world and it requires clubs to work together on joint events.

[1) Juan Mari Beltran's band is known for playing antique and contempory musical instruments; 2) Guests of the dinner dance a jota to the music of Beltran on Boise's Basque Block; 3) Members of the band perform a solo for the audience; 4) Beltran and another member of the band perform for the crowd]

Following Boises performance, Beltran made his way to Vancouver, British Columbia for the next phase of the tour.

Related links

Cenarrusa Center for Basque Studies, Boise, ID

www.cenarrusa.org

Seattle Euskal Etxea, Seattle, WA

www.seattleeuskal.org

Zazpiak Bat Vancouver Basque Club, Vancouver, BC, Canada

www.bcbasque.com

Juan Mari Beltranek bira hasiko du Estatu Batuetan eta Kanadan

Euskaraz, En español

'Orhiko xoria' diskoko abestiak entzuteko

www.e-boza.com