The muiñeira is a traditional dance and musical genre of Galicia. It is distinguished mainly by its expressive and lively tempo, played usually in Time signature|, although some variants are performed in other time signatures. There are also variant types of muiñeira which remain in the tempo of but which displace the accent in different ways. Muiñeira is associated with traditional choreographic schemes and the associated instrumentation is a form of bagpipe known as a gaita. It is subject to highly varied interpretation in differing local traditions. According to "Galicia-The Spanish Cousins", an article on Roots World, muiñeira is the Galician "equivalent" of a jig, which is consistent with the time signature of. The word "muiñeira" means literally both millstone and a mill landlady. Galician music is classified as part of Celtic music.
Characteristics of the muiñeira
It is a dance of playful character, with a social component expressing gallantry. It is somewhat more permissive of improvisation than other folk dances; improvised in fiestas and exhibitions. Some interpreters have added increased complexity to its traditional choreography. It is played at a fast tempo. Dancers often form a circle or parallel threes. Often jumps are incorporated, synchronized with percussion accompaniment: a snare-drum known as the tamboril, and the bombo, a bass drum. Examples of the genre recommended by native Spanish commentators include ' ' Muiñeira de Chantada' ' and to ' ' Muiñeira de Lugo' '.
According to RootsWorld"the most prominent gaita virtuoso in Galicia, and one of the world's best, is Carlos Núñez. He often tours and records with The Chieftains, who consider him an auxiliary member of the group". Núñez performed a "Muneira de Chantada" with the Chieftains in early 2008, which featured Irish foot dancing.
Susana Seivane Hoyo is a Galician gaitaplayer born in Barcelona, Spain, into a family of well-known Galician luthiers and musicians, the Seivane family, whose workshop is the Obradoiro de Gaitas Seivane. She started her musical career at the age of three. Guided by her father Álvaro Seivane and influenced by skilled bagpipers such as her grandfather Xosé Manuel Seivane, Ricardo Portela and Moxenas, she is notable in the bagpipe world and the world of traditional Galician music. She synthesizes the "enxebre" style of the ancient bagpipers while creating her own style including other musical influences.
Instrumentation
Galician bagpipes come in three main varieties, though there are exceptions and unique instruments. These include the tumbal, grileira and redonda. Asturian bagpipes are usually played along with a tambor. Asturian bagpipes usually have only one drone and follow a different fingering pattern. Tunes using the gaita are usually songs, with the voice either accompanying the instrumentation or taking turns with it
Additional references
Cronshaw, Andrew. "Celtic Iberia". 2001. In Mathieson, Kenny, Celtic music, pp. 140–175. Backbeat Books.
, large biographical directory of Celtic musicians.
