Xmas Carols in Azuqueca de Henares

I went to listen to a selection of groups perform Christmas carols in a church in Azuqueca de Henares, Guadalajara. I knew Casa Asturias´s choir was singing there, but I was also surprised to see and hear ensembles representing the local Christmas carols in various regions of Spain: Extremadura and Andalusia, as well as Guadalajara. New and old songs, all different all incorporating elements of tradition and modernity.

I do not know the name of the bands, or where they came from exactly, so I have just titled them “band 1, Group 2” etc. Casa Asturias I know only.

I made note of some of the instruments used by each band:

Band 1
Bottles for scrapping, Cajon, accordion guitar, drum, (friction drum) zambomba, triangles, shakers, castanets.

Band 2
Guitar, bandurria , drum, (friction drum) zambomba, bandurria rondalla, tambourine, Mortar and Pestle, various percussion instruments, castanets, a split bamboo percussive instrument used in Extremadura.

Casa Asturias (Alcala de Henares)
Guitar and Accordion.

Band 4
2 guitars and Ukuleles.

Band 5
Guitars, violin, percussive instruments, bandurria rondalla.

Each Group played an average of 3 carols, and all the groups came together at the end to perform “Silent Night” in the Final piece.

The recordings