What is Txalaparta?
1.
A really cool percussion instrument from the Basque people. It consists of two long thick planks of wood, and is played usually by two people standing opposite each other across the planks of the instrument. Each player holds two thick sticks or dowels, and the first player initiates the rhythmic pattern. The sticks are held loosely in each hand and are "bounced" on the planks, each stick rebounding from the board like a yo-yo. A well-played txalaparta produces a rich, woody tone. Pronounced "chah-lah-PAHR-tah".
At the festival, there were some Basque musicians, and two of them were playing a txalaparta.
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