Easter Celebrations with Cornet Marching Bands in Spain	April 27, 2001

Cornettist Jose David Garcia from Granada. He twists the small rotary valve under the instrument with his left hand to change the natural overtone series from C to D. Single valve cornets and drums constitute the marching bands which present the musical signature of the Spanish Catholic Easter celebrations. Expressive marches in minor keys hypnotize and thrill millions of people through the holy week. The story of the virgin with child and the mother before her crucified son has attracted and repulsed the masses through two millenniums. In the Catholic culture, sacrifice, self-control, and cooperation play important roles in daily life, child rearing, and religious celebrations. In Spain this culminates in Semana Santa. Processions with cornet marching bands traverse the streets every night from Palm Sunday through Good Friday. Masked and silk draped figures with tall, pointed hats hand out sweets to children on the pavements. Subsequently follows a heavy rose and candle lit wooden fleet picturing an Easter tableau of suffering Biblical figures. This fleet is carried by either children or adults, who sometimes perform rocking movements from side to side making the fleet "dance." Seeing people lift these enormous fleets by combined force and perfect timing is impressive. The audience applause eagerly as they are reminded of their ideological identity: "All for one, one for all." Preparing for an outdoor mass on Palm Sunday in Guardamar del Segura. The smell of incense dispersed by a child in the front row mixes with the suggestive rhythms of the drums and enhances the musical message in the sorrowful marches from the cornets. Through the combination of 3 or more valves it is possible to play all tones of the chromatic scale on the modern trumpet. This is essentially the combination of 7 natural overtone series, each single series possible to be played on the natural trumpet in the respected keys. The Spanish cornet with only one rotary valve enables the players to utilize tones from the natural overtone series of C and D. The small bore size of the instrument is crucial to the north African/Arabic/Mauric tone character similar to a Shalmei. The use of the combination of two closely situated overtone series in their higher partials brings forth a mysterious quality to these marches in minor and consequently to the whole religious ceremony. To hear bands with perfect sound, intonation, and dynamics is a unique musical experience. Notice the children's shoes under the red velvet. There are approximately 45 children carrying this fleet. The bands consist of different aged players who are assigned to the same saint. The 4 strongest and most skillful cornettists line up in front. They are the soloists and challenge the rest of the band with sky high a cappella phrases up to A3. While the band passionately replies with chords usually in staff, the soloists enjoy expressing themselves with improvisations and ornamentations. Advanced bands also feature a row of 4 "fliscornos." These instruments look like rotary valve (3) flügelhorns. The south region of Spain, Andalusia, with the capital of Seville, has the leading role in setting the standard and developing this special music. Mr. Julio Vera is considered the premiere cornet player in Spain. The cornet and drum marching bands unite the Spanish nation musically, socially, and ideologically while practicing in the streets the whole year through. Small children are given drums and cornets and taught how to treat them. Spain is a true "Cornet Country!" "Maria's cornets" in Granada, Andalusia. This band also has 4 fliscornos and a variety of drums. Source: Vera Hørven, ITG European Correspondent

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