Xirula

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The xirula (IPA: [ʃi'ɾula], spelled chiroula in French, also pronounced txirula, (t)xülüla in Zuberoan Basque; Gascon: flabuta; French: galoubet) is a small three hole flute usually made of wood akin to the Basque txistu or three-hole pipe, but more high pitched and strident, tuned to C and an octave higher than the silbote.[1] The sound that flows from the flute has often been perceived as a metaphor for the tweet cadences of bird songs.[2] Very old evidence of flutes found in the Caverns of Isturitz and Oxozelaia going back to a period spanning 35.000 to 10.000 years ago bears witness to the early presence of the instrument in the region.

[edit] Extent

It is an instrument characteristic of the Pyrenees, and it is played on the French side of the Basque Country (the extent of its use has shrunk over the years),[3] where it provides along with the atabal (a tabor like instrument played with drumsticks) the musical background for various traditional dances. Besides performing the music for dances, in the county of Soule (Zuberoa in Basque) it may enliven accompanied on both the ttun-ttun and the atabal the traditional carnival-time performances called maskaradak as well as the pastorals, age-old region-specific theatre plays popular in the area.

[edit] Players

Main xirula activity focuses in Soule, where xirula's musical revival is led by Jean-Mixel Bedaxagar (1953) along with Mixel Etxekopar (1963).[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Txistu. Vitrifolk. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. Site in French
  2. ^ Txori erresiñulak. Berria. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. Site in Basque
  3. ^ EUSKAL MUSIKA: Basque Music. North American Basque Organizations. Retrieved on 06/02/2008.
  4. ^ Txori erresiñulak. Berria. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. Site in Basque
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