Traditional Spanish music resonates at the heart of the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music

Fez – The 27th Fez Festival of Sacred Music of the World hosted, on Thursday, an extraordinary concert at the Jnane Sbil Garden under the title “Galician Musical Roots”.

As part of this evening, the Spanish trio Fransy, Davide and Cibrán took the audience on a journey to the heart of Galicia’s musical culture.

The concert opened with a traditional repertoire, resulting from meticulous collection work carried out by Fransy Gonzalez and the Xiradela association in the villages of Bergantiños. These songs and dances, passed down from generation to generation, bear witness to a rich cultural history and a deep connection with the land and the daily lives of the villagers.

The trio brought rhythms like “maneos”, “jotas” and “muiñeiras” to life, making the audience vibrate with contagious energy. The “muiñeiras”, inspired by the sound of the water mill wheels, evoked the ancestral activity of the peasants waiting for the grinding of corn, while the work songs, linked to the flax and wheat harvests or the arrieiro ( mule driver), transported the public into a rural and authentic world.

The presence of the “pandeireta”, this small tambourine traditionally played by women in popular Galician festivals, added a unique dimension to the performance. The rhythmic strokes of the “pandeiro” and “pandeiro cuadrado” created a fascinating sonic dialogue with Cibrán’s violin.

But Galician music is not limited to fixed traditions. Cibrán’s violin, with its experimental sounds, has transcended the boundaries of folklore. His playing, enhanced with effects pedals and layers of sound, gave a new and mystical dimension to traditional music.

This dialogue between the past and the present, between tradition and innovation, gave birth to a unique and vibrant music, perfectly embodied by the energy and complicity of the three musicians.

In a press statement, Davide Salvado stressed that through this concert, the group wishes to celebrate the meeting between Galician and Moroccan cultures, adding that the Fez Festival is a magical place where music becomes a universal language.

“We are proud to transmit these songs and dances, which tell the history of our region, the work of our ancestors and the strength of our culture,” he underlined.

The evening was also marked by the exceptional presence of the Amazigh singer Cherifa Kersit. His powerful and expressive voice brought an intercultural dimension to Galician music, testifying to the universality of music and the strength of cultural exchanges.

The collaboration between these two artists, coming from different backgrounds, offered the public a unique and unforgettable moment.

Placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Festival is being held from May 24 to June 1 under the theme “The Quest for the Spirit of Al-Andalus”.