Why does Spain's National Anthem have no words?

Spain's National Anthem

SPAIN By definition, an anthem needs words, but Spain's is the only one in the world that doesn't. All too often, the wrong anthem is played at official functions abroad because the subject is confusing. For example, at the Davis Cup matches in Australia earlier this year, they played the Republican anthem - which was banished by Franco in 1937. More recently, the Vice-President of the Junta de Andalucía, Diego Valderas, was received in Palestine by an anthem with lyrics by José María Pemán, which was used -but never officially approved- during the Franco era (Valderas belongs to the Communist Party, a part of Izquierda Unida, or United Left, historically very much opposed to Franco in his time). It was the same music we hear today, but included the regime-approved words. This music is>>>

Last night for this year's Workshops for Peace: tears for the kids

This year we only made it to the last night of this great project. This was the 11th edition of San Pablo de Buceite's magnificent effort that this year brought in some 180 kids from places like Cuba, Morocco, the Saharawi refugee encampments in Algeria and from various parts of Spain. Workshops went on for a a good fifteen days in all kinds of arts and crafts, ranging from pottery and photography to symphony orchestra and band, from theatre to percussion, from voice to foam rubber, and more. It's hard to describe the feeling we always have when it comes to the end - but the tears shed by the kids who'd never met each other and have become fast friends, not knowing if they'll ever meet again ... those tears say it all. (On a more political note: If this project is lost for any childish political reason, the politicians involved should be lined up and given a rope with which to hang themselves. The project desperately needs international repercussion - if you can help, or know someone who can, please let us know, no matter how small that help might be. It is vital for its continuation.)

Innovating flamenco guitarist Manolo Sanlucar announces retirement

NERJA The setting inside the caves at Nerja, a very flamenco venue, could hardly have been a better spot from which to announce his retirement from the stage. Manolo Sanlucar, a master guitarist, who, together with Paco de Lucía, is considered the most innovative of a significant generation of flamenco guitarists. The announcement came as a surprise to the audience, though it had been mooted for some time among his closest friends and associates. As he stood on stage after his performance of the symphonic version of 'Medea', a piece originally created in 1987 for Spain's National Ballet, Sanlucar was visibly emotional as he made his decision known. He started by saying that this was not one of his best concerts, for which he apologised, and ended up announcing his retirement, adding that he will be meeting all his contracted appearances through next year.

Singer songwriter JJ Cale has passed away

(From his personal website) JJ Cale passed away at 8:00 pm on Friday July 26 at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, CA. The legendary singer / songwriter had suffered a heart attack. There are no immediate plans for services. His history is well documented at JJCale.com, rosebudus.com/cale, and in the documentary, To Tulsa And Back. Donations are not needed but he was a great lover of animals so, if you like, you can remember him with a donation to your favourite local animal shelter.>>>

Really good flamenco guitar at Mingo

JIMENA Manolo Téllez is bringing his flamenco guitar to Mingo on Saturday, July 20, from 10pm. He specialises in the lively rumbas and sevillanas (to which you will want to dance, won't you?).

San Pablo's 11th Workshops for Peace welcomes 250 kids on Thursday 18

Click to enlarge

Jimena/SAN PABLO DE BUCEITE The annual Workshops for Peace has become a tradition that continues despite financial constraints and a lack of support from PP-run entities including the village's 'mother' municipality, Jimena (because it was started and continues under the PSOE). The event this year brings together some 250 kids from Cuba, the Sahara, Morocco and other parts of Spain, who mostly stay at private homes in the area, and take part in a large number of activities, largely musical or theatrical. Talleres por la Paz begins with the official opening on Thursday, July 18, and ends ten days later on Saturday 27. As you will see from the full programme below (English in italics), most of the onstage activities take place in the evening, but are prepared during the day at various workshops.>>>

Plácido Domingo, in hospital for a pulmonary embolism

MADRID Tenor Plácido Domingo, 72, was admitted to hospital on Monday for treatment of a pulmonary embolism , or blood clot on the lungs, according to management at the Teatro Real yesterday. Domingo is being treated 'successfully' but will have to take 3 or 4 weeks' rest for a full recovery. This will preclude him from performing in the opera Il Postino, by Daniel Catán, in which Plácido Domingo takes the part of renown Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. He had planned to call a press conference to announce his return to the Teatro Real with this opera, in which he had performed before at other venues. He will not be able to take part, either, in a free concert on Sunday 21 at which he was to direct the Comunidad Valenciana Orchestra.

The Jaramago's Blues Band comes to Jimena

JIMENA You will probably think this is a blues band - and you'd be right, in part. In fact, Marcus von Wachtel's magnificent venue, El Corral de la Paca, at Calle Ancha, is holding what he's calling a 'family spectacular' that features The Jaramago's Blues Band, which may or may not be a blues band at all. You'll just have to find out! Starting each evening at 10.30pm on Friday 5 and Saturday 6, tickets are la voluntad, which is loosely translated to 'as you wish'.

Live music at Mingo on Sunday

JIMENA Mingo has invited Elie Ossipovitch to offer his classical guitar and improvisations at a gig that also includes a barbecue. The venue is at Mingo (where else?), on Calle Sevilla, 18, just a little up the hill from Jimena's main square. Things will be getting under way from 2pm next Sunday, July 7. You can book a table on 622 326 222. (Have you seen Mingo's summer schedule yet? Click here.)

Paco de Lucía in London and Jimena

Yes, it's 1976, and yes, the genius of Paco de Lucía is on ITV in London.

He also played at one of the last International Music Festivals in Jimena

Molara live at Casa Henrietta

JIMENA Time and date: TOMORROW NIGHT, 10pm. Venue: CASA HENRIETTA (C/Sevilla 44). Voice, guitars and good music. See you there!

Julio Iglesias concert in Algeciras in August

ALGECIRAS  Only a day after Algeciras presented its summer events programme (about which more later), it was announced that the world's favourite Latin crooner, Spaniard Julio Iglesias, will be onstage at the Las Palomas bullring in Algeciras on Wednesday, August 14, as part of his world tour, which is taking him to Jordani, Israel, Portugal, Norway,Holland, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, The Philippines  China, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea. According to the star's schedule, he will be in Marbella less than two weeks before that, for the Starlite Festival. The Julio Iglesias official website does sell tickets, but not (yet) for the Algeciras gig. His latest recording happened in November, 2011, and Guinness World Records gave him the record for selling the most Latin music records in the world.

Potato Head Jazz Band to follow art exhibition

JIMENA A little further down this page, you will see an upcoming art exhibition on Friday at Corral de la Paca. Following that is a jazz concert by the Potato Head Jazz Band from Granada (on Facebook, on YouTube), offered by Jimena Jazz, the jazz society of the municipality. This band has a long history in the trad style, and has been on TV, radio and all over the place. That starts at 10.30pm and goes on into the night. Tickets at the door €10.

Trío de la Frontera in concert on Saturday

JIMENA Jimena is a well-known musical village (thanks largely to the sadly missed International Music Festival and its music society, Coda), so it will be no surprise that there is a trio called De la Frontera (Polly Orr-Ewing - violin; David Higginbottom - cello; and Frans Rutter, piano), who are offering a concert of music by Mozart, Schumann and Fauré next Saturday, June 15m, at Susana's home (C/ Consuelo, 42, right next door, downhill, from El Anón) at 8pm. Tickets at the door: €8, and €5 for Coda members.

Chamber music concert on Sunday

JIMENA Coda, the music society, has organized a concert of Chamber Music for next Sunday, June 9, at 12 noon, at Willibrord Beemster's home, Finca el Albendil. The performers are  Ignacio Rodríguez Tuñas (Piano), Enrique Chaves Sánchez  (Violin) and Vicente Giner Gil  (Horn), who will be offering the following programme: Notturno Op. 112 – Reinecke; Sonata nº 2 in A, Op. 12 – L. van Beethoven; Trio for Piano, Violinn and Horn Op. 40 – Johannes Brahms. Tickets at the door €10 (Coda members €5).

Young musicians in Coda concert on Saturday

JIMENA The local music society, Coda, has organized an extraordinary concert by the Youth Orchestra of the Municipal Music School and the Coda Chamber Choir. The venue is the beautiful Convento in Estación, the concert scheduled at 8pm next Saturday, June 8. Coda has asked us to encourage you to attend, in support of the talented young musicians that surround us. As Coda says, "We all need to put in our little grain of sand so that the musical ambiance of our village continues to rise in crescendo."

Kontranatura is back in Jimena

JIMENA She has been here before, and was very popular - which, of course, is why Melissa has invited Esther Esparza, the well-known café-concert artiste, to perform at Casa Henrietta, TONIGHT at 9.30p.m. Her (Spanish) monologues about science (yes, there's a laugh there, too!) have people rolling in the aisles - well, they would if there were any aisles to roll in. She is accompanied by the equally well-known Álvaro Gaviria, who happens to be performing at El Ventorrillero (that's Luis's establishment just down the street from Henrietta's) tomorrow evening. (CampoPulse will not be held responsible for information about things happening this weekend in the village, there's too much of it and no coordination among various venues - but we will try to get to at least a couple of 'em.)

Classical music concert this weekend

SOTOGRANDE Sponsored and organized by Sotogrande Cultural Society, the Costa del Sol Collegium Musicum and the Camerata Singers of Sotogrande are offering a great evening of Hydn's Missa Cellensis this coming Sunday, May 26 at 8.30 pm, at the Sotogrande church, Nuestra Señora de la Merced. Directed by Annemarie Phillips, a number of visiting international singers will be present: Llio Evans (Sopranos, Wales), Claire Filer (Alto, New Zealand), Ben Thapa (Tenor, UK) and Ryan Ross (Bass, USA). Entrance is free, but a donation will be requested.

British composer chooses Valladolid for world premiere of his latest work

Michael Nyman
(www.uimp.es)

VALLADOLID Michael Nyman, 69, the British composer and musician probably best known for the music for Jane Campion's award-winning movie 'The Piano', recently presented the world premiere of his Symphony Number 5 at the Miguel Delibes Cultural Centre in Valladolid. Under the direction of Jaime Martín and with piano soloist Iván Martín, the Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra offered a programme that also included the Spanish premiere of Nyman´s Piano Concerto Nº2, as well as a piece that launched Nyman's into film music, The Draughstman's Contract (1982). All these pieces were recorded earlier in the week under the supervision of the composer himself.>>>

Lacock Old Music group raise €500 for church roof

(We, too, would prefer a photo of
the concert -have you got one?)

JIMENA The concert offered last Friday by the Lacock Old Music force, hosted by Monica Becko at her magnificent home, El Antiguo Juzgado, raised a round €500 for repairs to the roof of the San Francisco church where it was held. Director Patrick Craig and the entire student body of the course -almost 40 people- were very pleased with the concert itself as well as the money raised, not to mention their delight at the village. There was standing room only at the concert, despite other activities in the village, and the audience was very appreciative of all the efforts made. (If anyone has any photos of the concert, please send them in - we were too busy to take 'em.)