Gypsy Caravan
Synopsis
This film follows two Basque traveling percussionists who take their ancient txalaparta percussion instrument on the road, visiting native peoples in India, the Arctic Circle, Mongolia, Algeria, and the Saharan Desert, to build bridges spanning communities, form a meaningful cultural exchange, and experiment with new materials for the instrument.
The txalaparta is a traditional wooden or stone percussive instrument said to be up to six thousand years old. It’s played by two performers one of whom maintains a fixed rhythm, while the other tries to break that balance with zero, one, or two beats in between.
As we travel with these two musicians, we are taken on a joyful ride showing how the universal qualities of music can be translated as shared understanding for creativity and happiness.
