One could argue that a place and its people are defined by their food. I would certainly agree, especially as today, I am invited to a Caracolera where I expect to be offered some snails, perhaps some Sobrassada, some Pa amb Oli, olives, Cocarrois and Panades. I am looking forward to it.

For the sake of argument, I would suggest that a place like Mallorca also very much gets defined by its music. That would be the music that the young ones are being educated in at the numerous music schools up and down the island, the music that is being listened to at various concerts, festes and verbenas, as well as the instruments which are the makeup of the traditional musical folklore. In Mallorca, you’ll find Ximbombas, Ocarinas, Banyas, Bandúrrias, Llaüts and numerous other instruments, along the Xeremies (bagpipes), Tamborís and Flabiols which are being played at every local fiesta and village gathering. I love the local music in Mallorca and I have a high opinion of the level of interest and dedication that is given to musical education here on the island, arguably greater than in any other place I have ever been to, including France, Britain, Germany, the USA, perhaps even China.

Pere Orpí Ferrer from Capdepera has dedicated some 15 years of his life researching and editing a book called Sons de Mallorca (Edicions Documents Balear, 2009, 452 pp.). If you should be interested in Mallorca’s musical traditions and if you were able to read a book in Catalan, you might find Senyor Orpí’s compendium highly rewarding. The book comes with a DVD giving sound samples of some 140 instruments. You will probably find the book in most local public libraries, should you want to have a look first.

The photo was chosen from my archive. It was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: January 23rd, 2011. The time was 16:47:55.