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Eight years after the death of Potxolo Loyola, the Basque club in Arrecifes paid tribute to the Basque club txistualris with an event that included a ceremony at the cemetery’s gathering room and the annual celebration of the Day of the Txistulari also at the clubhouse. 

Arrecifes, Argentina.  “The values, the feelings and the knowledge…everything that allows you to keep a tradition alive and transmit it from generation to generation, creating a chain that is hard to break.  That is how they conceived it from the beginning; those who laid the foundation of the Euskaldunak Denak Bat, and thanks to that, no doubt, the institution was able to celebrate its 93rd birthday this year".

To remember those who worked to strengthen this chain, especially in the area of music, members of the Euskaldunak Denak Bat, gathered to celebrate the Day of the Txistulari, in an atmosphere inspired by those words.  The festivities began with an Aurresku by Victoria Abasolo for Hector Garcia Bilbao, Tiburcio Bilbao’s grandson, and Pitxina Irigoyen, Potxolo Loyola’s widow.  There were also various speeches and an excellent menu to share.

When it was time for music, the club’s young txistularis took out their instruments and invited those present to dance.  To the rhythm of Juan Igancio Saez’s and Marianela Rimini Azarola’s txistus, first the dantzaris and then everybody else danced fandangos and kalejiras.  Besides dancing, encouraged by Mariana Dominé, those present accepted the challenge of Maral’s last album: “to recuperate the tradition of singing after the meal.”  That is why the event extended into the night, not only with dancing but also with singing of classic Basque songs.

The festivities took place in the clubhouse hall, but that wasn’t the only activity for the Day of the Txistulari.  The day before, May 15, the date when Loyola’s death was commemorated, the club also had a small ceremony in the gathering room at the local cemetery.