Not Irish trad I know but I hope this will be allowed.
Just back from walking the Camino. Stunning experience not the least of which is Galician pipe music, particularly the piper who seems to play all the time beside the Cathedral at Santiago.
Can anyone recommend some good recordings?
Anything by Carlos Nunez!
Llan de Cubel made some briliant music as well.
Also some pipes.
Absolutely lovely stuff.
Check out Milladoiro. They are amazing!
For a top quality selection of traditional tunes check out Susana Seivane’s most recent album, Dende o Meu Balcòn. Her earlier albums are also excellent but most have a more contemporary line up.
Other bands and players to check out, and this would include a full range of very traditional to modern folk/rock:
Luar na Lubre
Xosé Manual Budiño
Milladoiro
Os Rosales
Banda de Gaitas Leticia
Carlos Nuñez
Pallamallada
Balandran
Treixadura
Fuxan Os Ventos
For music of this part of the world, I’d recommend:
== Asturias ==
Llan de Cubel
https://youtu.be/VPoqn8IDAgs
Felpeyu
https://youtu.be/Qj7yxyfWop8
Corquiéu
https://youtu.be/_PH0xe2PxDg
José Manuel Tejedor
https://youtu.be/cwIy3za16eY
DRD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0sX_InYKXs
Deira (although they sound more like modern Scottish bands)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdYyVYjuGuA
Balandrán
https://youtu.be/I9WGVTBXV0c
Beleño
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKzU8tf1nis
Xéliba
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMChdxrSqT4
== Galicia ==
Carlos Nuñez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ1ynTMUj0c
Milladoiro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ1ynTMUj0c
Böj
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VtgaeqYJIw
Berrogüeto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0S4fPDkuw0
Anxo Lorenzo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrJnxDXMgfE
Xosé Liz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcjEobJSjUQ
Susana Seivane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIaB0-pjC3c
Luar Na Lubre
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0cWt2dyQgg
Toon’s recommendation of Llan de Cubel are also excellent but they are not Galician, they’re from neighbouring Asturias. Check out Tejedor for more Asturian music.
Susana Seivane
Anxo Lorenzo
For Irish/Galician crossover, check out the Chieftains’ album, Santiago https://thesession.org/recordings/272 , featuring Carlos Nuñez, among other illustrious guests (from other parts of NW Spain).
If you use sheet music, just searching the tune database for ‘muiñeira’ gives three pages of results.
Remember that Carlos Nunez and the Chieftains are great musicians but doing the “pop music” side of things.
If you’re interested in traditional Irish music you might prefer listening to traditional Galician music.
Also be aware that over the last 20 years or so Galician piping has come under strong Highland piping influence, including some Spanish pipers adopting bits of Highland ornamentation, fingering, and repertoire.
Also many Spanish pipe bands have been formed using neo-Gaitas built in the size and pitch of Highland pipes (Si Bemol or B-flat) rather than the traditional Gaita pitch (Do and Do Brilliante, around C or a bit sharp of C).
Try to find recordings that avoid both “pop” influence and Scottish influence.
They have big solo piping competitions (concursos) and recordings of these are oftentimes available.
@bagpie, you’re absolutely right.
Llan de Cubel is from Asturia.
Briliant , nonetheless.
Thanks everyone for your wonderful help, lovely examples, Silly question i m sure but is it Carlos Nunez who is playing next to the cathedral?
Thanks again.
There seem to be 2 videos (the same one) of Carlos Nunez! It’s him in both (the second one should be Milladoiro - when “copy and paste” goes wrong!) Here’s Milladoiro now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoE7JoFNdTo
@pól
“is it Carlos Nunez who is playing next to the cathedral?”
I very much doubt you will have seen Carlos Nunez busking in Santiago. It’s a popular busing spot there, you’ll see various pipers playing.
In addition to the excellent recommendations in this thread, I would add three deeper cuts. All of them excellent pipers in a more traditional style:
- Suso Vaamonde, here playing not only gaita but a variety of traditional Galician instruments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5p0o9tFWmc
- Pedro Fariñas, from TRIM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO4ermHy48A
- Daniel Bellón, from several incarnations of the BellónMaceiras duo. Here playing a Basque theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cnd8Rki-fM
