Basque Songs & Basa Ahaide

Description

A workshop to immerse yourself in the heart of the Basque oral tradition. It will help you enrich your vocal technique and deepen your understanding of modal music.

Open to those with experience in solo and/or polyphonic singing, as well as those curious about improvisation. Reading or writing music is not required. Upon registration, each participant will be asked to indicate their level and expectations.

Program

Orally transmitted since time immemorial, the basa ahaide and Souletin modal singing are popular Basque vocal arts rooted in breath, body, and boldness.

Without lyrics and based on non-tempered scales (with quarter tones), these songs reflect the character of a people and their landscapes. Sung a cappella, each piece has its own sound, modality, and unique relationship to time.

They are powerful tools for any singer. The transmission will include work on breath, timbre (solo and polyphonic), and resonance. You will also explore quarter tones, harmonics, and vibrato.

Julen Achiary

Julen’s artistic journey began in childhood, with Souletin singers who passed on their love of singing and the basa ahaide tradition. Through festivals and encounters, he opened himself to the world and to Glissant’s “Tout-Monde”.

From Uzeste and Itxassou to far-off Congo, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, he continues weaving threads between world music and the voices of the Souletin Arbailles.

At this intersection of traditions, he has developed a unique musical voice, constantly seeking new sounds and rhythms. His path is one of openness, connection, and transmission that lives on through creation.