RED ORANGE arts agency

Korrontzi started their musical adventure in 2004 by the hand of Agus Barandiaran, an enthusiast accordion player very fond of Basque folk music. Passionate for the accordion he plays anytime he can. He founded Korrontzi to make up for the lack of such a band in the world of folk in the Basque Country and abroad too. The prerequisite he demands for his approach is that everything should be done to take care over the form and that all the necessary support should be used. Since then, Korrontzi have been working based on the following concept: to provide Basque folk music with new musical contributions. This new work is thought and written with this sensibility and the idea that the spectacle they brought to light could be performed in the most remote places. But what’s that all about? It’s about fusion between Basque folk music and its dances and traditions.

Oinkari Dantza Taldea was formed in 1975 in Villabona (Gipuzkoa). They used to work exclusively on traditional dances from the Basque Country until 2003 when they got in touch with choreographer Edu Muruamendiaraz. He radically transformed Oinkari Dantza Taldea by bringing very well received new ideas. He added new steps of dance routine to Basque classical dances. The collaboration between Oinkari Dantza Taldea, Eneko Arteaga and Edu Muruamendiaraz reinvented and revitalized the company.

On the occasion of their third record, Korrontzi don’t come alone. Korrontzi & Oinkari Dantza Taldea prepared a spectacle they put on DVD support and they called it “Infernuko hauspoa” (the bellows of Hell). The audio tracks were recorded in the ETB studios, Miramón (San Sebastián) on May 14, 2010 by Jimmy Martín and in Tik-Trak studios, Getxo by Alberto Rodríguez and mixed and mastered by César Ibarretxe in October of 2010 in Groove studios, Ortuella. The pictures were shot on the plateau in ETB studios, Miramón on May 14, 2010, in San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and in the suburbs of Bilbao on October 16-17, 2010. David Cívico did the DVD’s mix, rough cut and editing.

On the occasion of their third record, Korrontzi are accompanied by guests – we could even called allied – Oinkari Dantza Taldea. Korrontzi & Oinkari Dantza Taldea worked together on the spectacle “Infernuko Hauspoa”. Korrontzi had in mind to produce something different and one day, their road met Oinkari Dantza Taldea’s one and the ideas became as bright as clouds in the sky. Music and dances have always walked side by side. Assuming that if there is no music one can’t dance, Oinkari dance to the folk sounds proposed by Korrontzi. Musical sensations are not only heard. The aesthetic qualities of dance help music in a phenomenal way. The top of music is taken to another level even higher. The dances-in-themselves are pretty but if they are accompanied by music, the effect is increased for the audience’s greater delight. Forty dancers are present to support folk music. Going by Korrontzi’s rhythms, Oinkari merge contemporaneous dances with Basque traditional dances. Confluence, fusion, synergy, miscegenation. We could add more terms but with the help of these we mention above it’s quite enough to get one’s mind around the proposal made by Korrontzi & Oinkari Dantza Taldea. The spectacle’s intensity makes that the peak of the sensations and visual sense is easily reached. Music and dances are white-hot. It’s a rain of dance and music, which take Korrontzi & Oinkari Dantza Taldea to their zenith, a rain of dances set to music.

The aim of Korrontzi & Oinkari Dantza Taldea’s project “Infernuko Hauspoa” is the visual aspect of the spectacle. In other words, watching the music and the dances while listening to the music.

Since a while, Korrontzi’s main goal is to revamp and update these old rhythms played on the accordion. For their part, Oinkari have the same concern with the dance. Thus, when our roads met their roads, our priority was to offer the work we did to the audience. For that reason, we decided to release this DVD. We dressed tradition with modernity.

Basque traditional music and dances put together? Explain me how and why did you seize this opportunity?

Although the coupling of Korrontzi and Oinkari started performing by chance in front of an audience, we have been having such a perfect chemistry in our relationship since then. It hugely eased our work and we could fulfil one of our oldest dreams: watching Korrontzi’s music adorned with different dances and choreographies. Indeed, our music is not conceivable anymore without a dance to accompany it.

Korrontzi plays more and more often far from Basque Country and every time Oinkari Dantza Taldea is present by your side. It’s an important part of the spectacle, isn’t it?

50% of the concerts we give are abroad: France, Portugal, Azores, Germany, etc.… Away from Basque Country, the audience considers our rhythms as traditional music. People regard it as the mirror of our nation’s music. Using such instruments like accordion or alboka involves this kind of reaction and we are delighted with it, that’s the reason why, several times, we felt like ambassadors of our land and decided to incorporate dance into our recipe. Actually, it’s one of the main ingredients.

ritxi aizpuru (december 02, 2010)

Agus Barandiaran: accordions and voice
Iker Lope de Bergara: alboka, albokotea, whistles, side-blown flute, tambourine, txistu, flute and voice
Ander Hurtado de Saratxo: drums, percussions, marimba and vibraphone
Kike Mora: bass
Alberto Rodríguez: acoustic guitar, mandolin and chorus