‘Ruchare’, a song to the essence of Leonese music

The trailer for Rucharethe latest work done by Rodrigo Martínez, recently awarded the Council Awards of the Leonese Institute of Culture (ILC) in the Music category, and Ismael Aveleira.

It is a documentary work that investigates the essence of Leonese music and customs throughout all its regions: Montaña Central, Montaña Oriental, Bierzo, Maragatería, Babia, las Riberas, Omaña, etc. «If we look in the RAE dictionary for what ruchare is, there is no doubt: to start with Leonism; to continue, which means: to sprout. And, precisely, that is what Ismael Aveleira and Rodrigo Martínez wanted to capture in this cinematographic adventure: the emergence of a culture, a land, some music, recording testimonies that will become historical,” they indicated in a press release. . Along a path of more than 13 years, Martínez and Aveleira have toured León, they have spoken with its people, they have recorded their music, their anecdotes… The fruit of this work is Rucharea film whose trailer is now available.

The origin of Ruchare It is found on an album, the tribute that Rodrigo Martínez wanted to give to his grandmother, back in 2010, in Valdealiso. However, this took on other dimensions, and he began to want to tell the ecosystem of traditional music and its transmission, all through a musical format.

Once again, the project was transformed: the mission was of such magnitude that little by little they realized that this work had to also be captured with an audiovisual work, as well as another series of narratives that will be revealed throughout the next anus.

The importance of the documentary is incalculable for several reasons. Of course, the fact that some of those interviewed have already died is still a tribute to the countrymen and women of the province of León (not in vain, the film collects what are possibly their last musical testimonies).

And, as the authors have stated, “each of the people who appears in the documentary should have their own story, their own documentary.”

But Ruchare It also has another value, which will be generated in the future: «We are looking at the portrait of the present, a portrait built now, which narrates facts, stories, details, that now go unnoticed by us, but that in a few years will be recognized, remembered and exalted.”

The trailer could be seen at the last edition of the Concejo Awards, organized by the Leonese Institute of Culture, an institution that has opted for this project in its last months of completion. During his presentation, Emilio Gancedo, the coordinator of the Institute, highlighted the vision offered, in which the love of the land is synthesized, combining music, art, literature and audiovisual language, with informants of traditional music from the province who are witnesses inherent to a past that has already died. Or maybe not, because it is sprouting, because it is roaring.