Gutizia

Two worlds which, on the face of it, are completely unrelated, have come together in Gutizia – a smorgasbord that directly links the txistu, an instrument deeply rooted in Basque culture, with a symphony orchestra. This is what Garikoitz Mendizabal and the Basque National Orchestra worked on last February in Miramon, under the direction of Jaume Santonja, to make recordings and write a compendium of pieces for txistu and orchestra. This work now sees the light with a double album released by Orpheus Classical.

The record includes a total of nine works written or arranged by authors of diverse origins, rendering this collection of music a journey in itself. Most of the works will have their premiere on this record, and each has its own story and motivations behind it: a tribute to Kenya (Karibu Peponi); an expression of the emotions that human beings experience throughout our lives (Leyenda); a showcase of the txistu as an instrument that holds its own with an orchestra (Symphony-Concerto); or the piece by Lebanese composer Naji Hakim, who took inspiration from Basque melodies and introduced the txistu as a solo instrument in a classical concerto with three movements (Concierto para txistu y orquesta).

CD 1: 40’

• Concierto para txistu................................................... Naji Hakim [13’]
• Symphony-Concerto................................................... David Johnstone [22’]
• Reflexiones sobre la longitud del viento.................. Fernando Velázquez [5’]

CD 2: 44´

• Karibu Peponi................................................................. Javier Martinez Campos [11’]
• Zaharra........................................................................... Popular (Arrangement: Pierre Wekstein) [4’]
• Leyenda.......................................................................... Eduardo Moreno [17’]
• Iruten ari nuzu................................................................ Popular (Arrangement: Kepa de Miguel) [4’]
• Atzo ttun ttun................................................................ Popular (Arrangement: Kepa de Miguel) [5’]
• Hora stacatto............................................................... Grigoras Dinicus (Arrangement: Iñaki Urkizu) [3’]

Participants:

• Garikoitz Mendizabal, txistulari.
• Basque National Orchestra.
• Naroa Intxausti, soprano.
• Children’s choir of the Francisco Escudero Conservatory. Director: Eva Ugalde.
• Jaume Santonja, orchestral conductor.
• Iñaki Telleria and Marc Blanes, production and sound.