Popularizing a Basque Musical Tradition: Txalaparta

The txalaparta is one of the world’s most unique musical instruments — one in which two people play together creating rhythmic, organic melodies. This art form has been popularized by the Basque Country duo of Harkaitz Martinez de San Vicente and Mikel Ugarte. The two have taken their wooden txalaparta boards around the world.

The two musicians recently performed in the United States in cities such as Chicago and Washington, D.C. They also played for the Basque community in California at the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco and the Chino Basque Club.

To find out more about these txalapartariak, visit their nomadaktx website.

Related Euskal Kazeta report:
Nomadic Txalaparta Players Perform Across U.S.