Easter “Caramelles”

×

Expand

Image courtesy of L'auditori

Exif_JPEG_420

Caramelles (popular songs) and goigs (sung poems) form part of a unique vocal and instrumental religious, pious and paraliturgical practice in Catalan-speaking regions and are still performed today in many churches on the islands of Ibiza and Formentera.

Associated with Christmas and Easter, this musical tradition consists a group of men, known as a esquadra de caramellers, filing in procession to the church to sing a long series of goigs with repeated chants, accompanied by flutes, castanets, a drum and an espasí (a metal instrument). In musical terms, the caramelles are one of the most unique, relevant and beautiful practices of Pityusic traditional music.

Although the singing of goigs is characteristic of all areas of Catalan culture, the uniqueness of the repeated chant of the Pityusic Islands—with a specific vibration at the end of each verse, the particular sonority of the combination of voices and instruments and the duration make this practice an authentic treasure of intangible heritage.

For more music events check our online events calendar.