Pedro Estevan, Spain

 

Pedro Estevan was born in Sax (Alicante) in 1951. He studied percussion at the Superior de Musica Conservatory in Madrid and specialised in contemporary music. He was an enthusiastic member of many jazz groups and performed on stage at several theatres. Together with Maria Villa and Suso Saiz, he founded groups such as Orquesta de las nubes, Ranfonia and Pan­ku.

Pedro Estevan has been a member of the Hespèrion XXI and Le Concert des Nations since 1968. He combines all his musical performances with his teaching career at the ESMUC music school (Escola Superior de Musica de Catalunia).

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Pandero (Frame drum)
Of Mesopotamian origin, this instrument is mentioned in the Bible (Genesis and Exodus), and appears in mural paintings on Ancient Egyptian tombs. The shape of this instrument and the materials that are used in its construction are basically the same since many centuries ago; it is still played, especially in the Maghreb countries.

Pandereta (tambourine)
Smaller than the pandero and with jingles. The first appearance of a small frame drum with jingles attached to its frame is found on the bass-relief of a Roman sarcophagus.

Darbuka
Of Persian origin, all the instruments of this family have a goblet shape. They are made of pottery, wood or metal and have a single skin that covers the widest opening.

Tambor (drum)
Drums of different sizes and materials can be found all over the world. For this concert, we will use an originally Berber instrument, from the South of Morocco. The name of this drum is «Ganga» and it is played in all kinds of festivities –weddings, the end of Ramadan– together with shawms and trumpets.