The aim of this project is to connect the French monolinguals with the Basque Country and with the Basque children of Hego Euskal Herria. The initiative was created by two music teachers from public schools in Iparralde: Denise Olhagaray is one of the women who work in Baigorri and Donibane Garazi, and José Antonio San Miguel is the other player who plays in Hendaia. Within the music subject, students each year offer a concert, usually with fashionable songs, but in recent years Olhagaray and San Miguel have based them on Basque music.
Among others, Mikel Laboa and Itoiz. On this occasion, the songs of Benito Lertxundi were discussed and contacted the director of Et Incarnatus, Miguel Zeberio. “We found it interesting,” explains Zeberio, “and we have been in it for three years, very comfortable.” In the spring of last year, they premiered in Hendaia and Baigorri. Since then, the project has been supported by the Euskadi-Aquitaine consortium. As a result, they have been given the opportunity to offer more action: In Tolosa on 26 April, in Zegama on 27 April, in Salvatierra on 25 May and in Vitoria on 26 May.
According to Zeberio, “the concert of Tolosa will be the most special, as along with the singing children of Iparralde there will be three other children choirs of Hegoalde. We wanted to invite all the children's choirs from the villages in which they are going to take action at the Tolosa session, so that they may know each other. On other occasions, only the people’s team will be with us and the children of Iparralde.” The participating choirs will be La Citadelle de
Donibane Garazi, Jean Pujo de Baigorri, Irandatz de Hendaia, Orkatz txiki de Zegama, Crescendo de Vitoria and Lask de la ikastola Laskorain de Tolosa.La festival
Kilometroak of this year will be held in Tolosa and “to end the party. “Our goal is to promote the use of Euskera and we decided to include it in our program because we saw that this event fit well with that goal. In the public schools of Iparralde they do not speak a single word in Basque and thanks to this project, these children will feel closer to the Basque. In addition, they will participate in the representation of Tolosa members from different countries. We would like the impact of our holiday to be extended to all locations,” said KMK 13 coordinator Unai Igartua.

Eleven songs by Lertxundi

The repertoire will be composed of versions of some of Benito Lertxundi’s best-known themes, among which are popular songs that are already part of the Basque cultural heritage. That is why they have chosen these children to sing, among others, those of Hendaia, Baigorri and Donibane Garazi. The new adaptations were made by José Antonio San Miguel, especially for the string orchestra and children's choir. “In Ipar Euskal Herria, especially in the interior, in Behe Nafarroa and in the rural environment, they have not lost the habit of singing and that is very noticeable to the children. They have their own gift for singing. Those who have not studied music in school or in the choir, even if they do not have a special musical training, but in ordinary school, will surprise the public. The voices of the soloists will surprise them,” explains the director of orquesta.Los
children of Hegoalde will also have the opportunity to sing with a professional orchestra, as in very few occasions. Zeberio wanted to stress that “it was possible thanks to the support of the Euskadi-Aquitaine consortium”. The choir of the KMK 13 organising ikastola, Lask, will come to the quote. “It’s not new for us to be with this orchestra. The director is tolosarra and we have collaborated on two occasions: In the tribute to the Finnish musician Erkki Pohjola and in the special that we made together with Eñaut Elorrieta, Alabak and the Gaiters of Baigorri. It’s a luxury and very motivating for kids, to be able to sing with an orchestra of this kind,” explains Naiara Mintegia, director of the choir Lask.

In memory of Iñaki Epelde

The painter Iñaki Epelde, one of the best collaborators of Et Incarnatus, recently died. The director would not fail to mention this first posthumous act: “Our orchestra, besides being unique and fully independent, encompasses a broad group. Musicians, of course, but also some writers, coworkers, collaborators and promoters. Iñaki Epelde has been one of the most unique elements: besides being the creator of our image, image and logo, he contributed to strengthen the basic idea and philosophy of all the important projects. The uniqueness of our projects and a part of the success that has always had the result, we owe it to him.” The two performances of
Iparralde received a very good response, the fronton of Hendaia and the church of Baigorri were filled with people, and the organizers expect that in the next performances it will be the same. In total, about 250 artists will meet on the stage of Leidor, including musicians and singers. These are several essays and previous work. For things to come out properly they will have the help and support of many people. The goal of all of them is to dignify the most well-known songs by Benito Lertxundi, with the help of the choirs and the orchestra, to delight the attendees. The answer is now in the hands of listeners.