A Celtic fiesta opens Arden Theatre season

One of Spain’s most revered pipers, possibly the tradition’s greatest, will open at the Arden Theatre season in four days.

Carlos Núñez, an internationally revered master of the gaita (Galician bagpipes), exudes the technical prowess of a classical music virtuoso and the charismatic energy of a rock star. A London reviewer at The Telegraph even dubbed him “the Jimi Hendrix” of pipes.

Núñez is touring his ninth album Inter-Celtic and returns after a wildly successful performance at the Edmonton International Folk Festival several years ago.

“People in North America respond so well to my music. They have good feelings about the future. In these days, Europe always needs the approval of North America. In Spain, I became well-known after I was in the New York Times,” Núñez laughed.

For North American audiences, it is a delightful surprise to hear a Spanish artist associated with what most people believe is a Scottish instrument. However, that is a misnomer says Núñez.

“The gaita is over 1,000 years old. Many think the pipes came from Scotland to Galicia, but the truth is that the pipes travelled from Galicia to Scotland,” he said.

At the westernmost part of Spain perched on the Atlantic Ocean, the region of Galicia has an ancient history tied to Celts who inhabited the area more than 2,500 years ago and later enjoyed a strong seafaring culture.

During Franco’s dictatorship, flamenco was promoted as “national music” while other instruments faced repressive climates. Today Galicia is experiencing a renaissance.

And Núñez is at the forefront as the undisputed master of Galicia’s signature musical instrument, the gaita or Galician bagpipes.

“How the flamenco guitar is played in the south, the gaita is played in the north,” explained Núñez.

A multi-instrumentalist, he is also proficient on the ocarina, flute, assorted whistles, Scottish highland pipes, uilleann (Irish) pipes, bombarde (Breton oboe), biniou kozh (Breton bagpipes) and pastoral pipes.

Núñez’s music draws from the ancient and contemporary Celtic cultures to Medieval and Baroque. In addition, he adapts the sounds and styles where Galicians’ have put down new roots including Cuba, Brazil, Argentina and North America.

“It is a very powerful instrument and you can play to hundreds of people. It has a great energy and can make people crazy with excitement.”

Núñuz started playing the gaita at age eight and shortly thereafter studied recorder and Baroque music at Madrid’s Royal Conservatory.

By the age of 12, he’d performed at Brittany’s Festival InterCeltique where he first met The Chieftains from Ireland. Five years later he was touring with the Irish ensemble and earned the affectionate moniker, the “seventh Chieftain.”

Although Núñez has a deep respect for traditional Galician music, his collaborations with The Chieftains connected him to the world.

“And so I am following it to different countries. You see, tradition is like a cathedral with many different styles superimposed in one building. And my music is the same.”

On the crossover Inter-Celtic album, the 16 tracks shine with international collaborations ranging from The Chieftains, Altan, Sharon Shannon and DÄ‚Ĺ‚nal Lunny to Ry Cooder, Alan Stivell, Dan Ar Braz and Capercaillie’s Donald Shaw.

Núñez’s musical essence shifts from the up-tempo, free-spirited dance tune Mambo to Reel Roots, a medley of dance tunes that mix jazz, rock, Irish and Galician culture.

Among the other 14 standouts are Two Shores, a poignant Galician melody played by guitar legend Ry Cooder, and Over Nine Waves, a contemplative composition about the ancient Milesians who crossed from Iberia to Gaelic Ireland.

“Inter-Celtic is about a bigger world – Brittany, Brasilia, Argentina – all different countries where Celtic traditions are enjoyed. We are making a common world. We speak different languages, but we enjoy the same music.”

Núñez will perform at the Arden on Sept. 17 with fellow compadres Pancho Alvarez (medieval guitar) and Jorge Núñez (percussionist).

“People are escaping agriculture and moving towards technology, but people need to stay connected with nature and their roots. It is not just pop music that pulls people together. Celtic music has a message too.”