Fuerteventura Hosts III National Timple Meeting
Fuerteventura’s Cabildo announced the III National Timple Meeting, set to take place from 22 to 25 October, featuring concerts, exhibitions, workshops, and discussions centred on the timple, a traditional Canarian instrument. The event was unveiled on Monday with input from President Lola García, Culture Councillor Rayco León, renowned timple player Domingo ‘El Colorao’, and Marcos Hormiga, author of a related publication.
Organised by the Cabildo’s culture department in conjunction with the National Timple Association and the Fuerteventura Training and Congress Palace, the meeting aims to promote the timple as a cultural symbol of the Canary Islands and create opportunities for learning and musical exchange.
García emphasised the timple’s significance in Canarian collective memory, stating, “Some instruments create music; others, like the timple, tell the stories of our people. We must ensure it resonates with future generations.” León added that the timple stands out in traditional Canarian music and highlighted the need for spaces to share knowledge about it.
‘El Colorao’ noted the diverse programme and expressed hopes for activities to continue past the meeting’s duration. He said, “We want the timple to reach younger generations and to keep the event alive throughout the year with activities in schools.”
Hormiga lauded the publication dedicated to the timple, which features contributions regarding its history and craftsmanship, calling it a unique compilation.
Schedule of Events
The event kicks off on 22 October at noon with the inauguration and presentation of the second Timple Notebook at the Chillida Room in the Fuerteventura Palace. That afternoon, at 4 p.m., an exhibition titled ‘Timple, Tradition and Vanguards’ will open, showcasing the evolution of timple construction.
Following that, a workshop on making timples from recycled materials led by Adán Moreno will take place at 5 p.m., and the day wraps up with a concert by Pino & Pino at 8:30 p.m., blending traditional Andean sounds with various musical styles.
The programme continues on 23 October with a talk on charangos by Andrés Pino at noon, followed by a discussion on instrument care by David Sánchez later that day. The evening includes the launch of the book ‘Duets for Timple and Guitar’, culminating in a performance by the Chromatic Duo.
On 24 October, sessions include a beginner’s masterclass led by Derque Martín and an improvisation workshop by Pedro Ageno at the Music School, alongside a roundtable discussion featuring prominent timple players and luthiers.
The final day, 25 October, features a talk on flamenco by Manuel Cerpa and another masterclass by ‘El Colorao’. The event concludes with a performance by the Trío de Raíz at 8 p.m.
Registration Open
Participants can join in four workshops covering various timple techniques. Interested individuals must register via the provided link for the workshops.
This year’s meeting reinforces Fuerteventura’s commitment to the timple as a vital part of its cultural heritage and its ongoing evolution within Canarian music.
