Basque Txalaparta and Contemporary Percussion

Abstract

The txalaparta was little-known around the time it underwent a revival within a Basque cultural reinvigoration in the 1960s, a politically complex time in the history of the Basque Country. Community and sharing are at the heart of txalaparta, both in its historical origins and performance practice. This dissertation aims to provide a point of access and interaction by contemporary percussionists and musicians through 1) developing a notation informed by the txalaparta practice, 2) applying that notation to comment on an observable pedagogy, 3) collaboration with contemporary classical composers to write original works inspired by txalaparta, all while 4) mindfully navigating the sociopolitical questions pertaining to these types of ethnomusicological and anthropological studies. It has developed into an experimental contemporary music practice that maintains those same values of community and sharing, as expressed through interviews with txalaparta performers, revivalists, and scholars in their readiness to share their ideas. A collaborative notation, along with original music towards this practice, will allow musicians of both cultures to share in this music-making practice and continue to complement each other in areas of performance, composition, and pedagogy