The centenarian Sociedad Democracia of Arrecife held a magnificent and emotional Christmas Concert last Monday night, which began at 8:00 PM in the entity's main hall.
The event, hosted by Leandro Martín, featured the participation of four prominent cultural groups from the municipality: the Alborada Peña del Lentisco Musical Group, led by José Cruz, the Arrecife Polyphonic Choir, under the direction of Sheila Rizo, accompanied on piano by Professor Pepe Artiles, the Vulcania Polyphonic Choir, directed by Mari Cielo Guzmán, and the Arrecife Choirs and Dances Folkloric Group, directed by Santiago Torres.
The four groups performed a varied repertoire of Christmas carols, some a cappella and others accompanied by traditional instruments such as guitars, timples, tambourines, bone castanets, and drums. Popular and traditional Christmas carols were heard, those that announce the arrival of Christmas each year and awaken mixed feelings; the joy inherent to these dates and, at the same time, the nostalgia and remembrance of those who are no longer with us.
It should be remembered that Christmas carols in the Canary Islands date back to the arrival of settlers and Franciscan friars, who introduced these popular songs for evangelization purposes. Over time, they evolved from the old "Ranchos de Ánima," which date back to the 16th century, to the forms we know today.
The audience actively joined in the concert, accompanying some of the most well-known choruses with clapping and singing, visibly moved with nostalgia at their fingertips. Throughout the evening, emblematic carols such as Silent Night, Navidad, El Divino, Campanas sobre Campanas, A nacido un Niño were heard, alongside compositions with Canarian roots created by the participating groups.
It was, without a doubt, a special night when the magic of Christmas enveloped everyone present, reinforcing the value of traditional music and cultural exchange in such an emblematic space as the centenarian Sociedad Democracia of Arrecife