El txistu y el tamboril en Navarra [The txistu and drum in Navarre]

Abstract

The pipe and tabor played by a single performer was probably a medieval European invention quickly propagated through the Christian kingdoms. It came to Navarre very soon, across the Way of Saint James, and brought life to dance in Court and in the street. When the former decayed, it settled in the folk tradition where it has forged its own history. The musician was called minstrel, tambourine, danbolin or chunchunero until its modern name: txistulari. Despite the continuous repressive measures because of his connection with the sinful dance, the piper assured the stability of the profession thanks to the institution of the dance of authorities, its municipalization as support and control of the diversions and other public services and an...