No more music in the Praza do Obridoiro???

[peregrina2000]

I'll bet that most of us have some fond memories of music being played in the archway as we entered the square in front of the cathedral, or being in the back of the square at night when the tuna comes out to sing.

Looks like our bagpipe friends, the opera singers, and the tuna, and whoever else has been singing around the area for the last 30 years, are going to have to relocate. This article, from El Mundo, says that the City of Santiago has imposed a ban because of complaints from the parador and from the church about noise, interference with other activities, etc.

I for one don't think this is a good development.

 

[supersullivan]

I for one have enjoyed several late evenings listening to the 2 opera singers in the archway, they always finish up by midnight and it has been a lovely way of unwinding after collecting the compostela and eating dinner.

 

[miguel_gp]

A real shame. Sitting in the square, back against the Ayuntamiento, gazing at the Cathedral with the pilgrims arriving and leaving the square and the sound of the Gaita (Galician Pipes) providing the soundscape are wonderful memories from my stays in Santiago.

Hopefully, a proposal that doesn't come to fruition!

 

[peregrina2000]

A real shame. Sitting in the square, back against the Ayuntamiento, gazing at the Cathedral with the pilgrims arriving and leaving the square and the sound of the Gaita (Galician Pipes) providing the soundscape are wonderful memories from my stays in Santiago.

Hopefully, a proposal that doesn't come to fruition!

Well, this article says that the music has stopped. The mayor has issued a municipal order for the cops to stop the musicians, but there seems to be some hope that an agreement will be worked out.

So, if you're walking into Santiago in the next few days, let us know if you hear music and see musicians under the archway on the steps down into the square.

 

[AJ]

I witnessed police moving on a piper from the archway a few weeks ago. A great shame.

 

[krazeekuban]

What a shame! I always love hearing all the music! The couple opera singers are fantastic! Hope an agreement is met. Possibly the time frames could be worked out. I will miss it

 

[ivar]

There was a story on this on the local radio in Santiago, I listen with "half an ear" and as far as I remember, they have come to an agreement on this. They will just limit the music there, no music after 21.00 if I remember correctly.

This was all agreed upon after the 10th when the article was written.

Greetings from a fall-like Santiago,
Ivar

 

[krazeekuban]

So happy to read this, thank you Ivar!

 

[Mark Lee]

Yeah, would have hated to see the musicians go.
I'd rather they chased off those bizarre street performers dressed like Mahatma Gandhi, etc...

 

[katdavis]

There was something magical about listening to the tunas and watching people of all ages dance to their songs. I always considered myself lucky to stumble across the many talented musicians, hopefully the curfew of 9pm will please the authorities.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola Ivar and thanks for the feedback. Given the current state of the Spanish economy buskers are just about the only people making a few Euros. I too, found it enjoyable to listen to the various tunes - some old, some new so it would be a shame if it went completely. Maybe the Parador should employ the better ones to provide music for their dinner guests and the cathedral could always do with a few extras to lead the hymn singing before mass.

 

[Al the optimist]

Thanks for the update Ivar. A compromise is better than nothing I suppose. Still I will miss the late evening performances. When I arrived on the 9th September with 3 others who themselves arriving for the first time I was disappointed that they were not greeted by a piper.

 

[ivar]

As far as I understand the "Tuna" is not affected. This 21.00 (9pm) limit was only for those playing in the tunnel going in to the square.

 

[Al the optimist]

Great. Thanks again Ivar.

 

[docpam]

I do hope the pipers continue. They are part of the culture of Galicia! Now I want to know where one can go to one of those wonderful concerts of people like Xose Manuel Budiño or Carlos Nunez. I would really like it if the tourist authorities organised Galician cultural evenings. I few years ago I was in Santiago for the music festival near St James Day - it was wonderful. This year I will be in Santiago earlier and really want some local music!

10 Minutes later - I just have done a web search - there is Galician night life in Santiago! I must get to see it this time around!

 

[ivar]

I saw the bagpiper the other day, so they are back. I think that what happened was that they can not play late at night.

 

[wayfarer]

I too hope they are back, in 2012 Jane paid the piper (pardon the pun) to play any Irish tune he had so when she saw my brother and I walking down the hill she gave him the nod and he played O'Carollans Concerto. We were so excited to have reached Santiago and to see Jane that we didn't even hear it.