Amposta, in the Montsià region, has started a project to revive 'aubades', traditional improvised songs that were once a central part of its Major Festivals. The initiative, led by the Commission for the Recovery of Aubades, Amposta Town Council, and the Museum of the Ebro Lands, began with workshops on 12 May.
The goal is to reintroduce these songs of praise, which were sung in front of authorities and festival officials until the early 20th century. The project seeks to restore a piece of intangible cultural heritage for the town's residents, according to Inés Martí, Amposta's Culture Councillor.
Learning the Tradition
The 'Les Aubades d'Amposta' workshop consists of six free sessions, taught by Josemi Sánchez, a Valencian improvisational poet and dulzaina player. Participants learn to create and improvise an 'aubada', a song based on a four-line stanza.
While 'aubades' are listed in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Ebro Lands (IPCITE), they are currently only remembered in La Sénia, Montsià. Efforts are underway to revitalise them for Christmas festivals in Roquetes and Tortosa, in the Baix Ebre region. In the Valencian Country, however, the tradition is still very much alive, with 'quintos' (groups of young people) performing them during festivals in Peñíscola and Morella.
Community Collaboration
The Commission for the Recovery of Aubades includes several local groups: the Paracota dance group, the Sanfaina dulzaina band, the Ebreglosa project, the traditional music school of La Filharmònica Musical Society, and Espai de So. The Museum of the Ebro Lands and Amposta Town Council sponsor and collaborate on the project.
Looking ahead, the Commission plans a public conference on 'aubades' for June. This event will feature museologist and ethnographer Lluís-Xavier Flores, alongside dulzaina players, drummers, string musicians, and improvisational poets from Amposta, Montsià, and Baix Ebre.
