The orchestras dust off the instruments and sound equipment so that the people of Tenerife dance again. The wait has become eternal, as a consequence of the covid pandemic, but with the end of the sanitary restrictions, there is a flood of calls to play all over the island. In the province of Tenerife there is a passion for orchestras. Some even have fans that follow them everywhere. The relief felt by those responsible is enormous. And it is that both these musical groups and the entire industry that revolves around popular festivals –sound and lighting companies, food and drink stalls, amusement fairs, accessory stalls…– are finally back to normal .
“In the days after the restrictions were lifted, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing.” It is told by Moisés Leandro, founder of the Tropin orchestra, confirmed for the first popular festival to be held on the Island after the coronavirus break, that of El Tablero, in Santa Cruz, next Saturday. The orchestra from the municipality of Fasnia has performed in this time but very few, insufficient to survive: several online and only one concert in a hotel. “At least it has helped us to maintain the group.” “It has been a very hard break,” admits Moisés.
The ravages of the crisis
Javier Alarcón, a musician from Grupo Pa ti, says that “there are colleagues who have not been able to afford to return to the orchestra due to the instability of the pandemic”, as is the case with the Orquesta Deliciosa, founded in 2008. “We have even had some other fateful farewell, “he emphasizes. It has not only been the economic crisis, but also a very important emotional burden. “Everything fell apart in such a sudden, radical and lasting way that it will leave sequels,” says Alarcón. The alternatives proposed by the different city councils were concerts over the internet via streaming. “It is not profitable,” Alarcón details. “During this time we have had to reinvent ourselves and prepare to return to the stage,” he settles.
For Guillermo Melián, director of the Los Concejales Musical Group, the stoppage due to covid has been “totally appalling: many expenses and no income.” “On an emotional level it has been horrible. I myself have had to go to a psychologist because I didn’t know how to cope with this situation,” acknowledges Melián, who recalls: “Like me, there have been many colleagues like this.” The agenda for July and August of Los Concejales, however, is already full.
The great forgotten in this crisis in the sector have been the sound and lighting companies, the ones in charge of ensuring that the orchestras of the Islands sound good and look the best possible. Juanjo Álvarez, a technician for the Acapulco orchestra and head of the company Sonido SP, tells how overnight they lost their jobs. “I had to close the company and liquidate because I had no income and could not pay my workers,” he explains. Not being able to hold any type of event, they have not been able to work during these more than two years that the health limitations imposed by the pandemic have lasted. “The orchestras were not included in the aid for culture and we were the last to be able to go back to work,” says the technician.
Green light to the dances
Since the green light has been given to the celebration of popular festivals, the situation has turned around. Everyone agrees that the phones have not stopped ringing in these three weeks and they are closing many dates throughout the remainder of the year. “It is also true that we continue to fear that the restrictions will return overnight,” explains Juanjo Álvarez. “It’s been really tough. On top of that you saw the nightclubs since October full in closed places, ”says the owner of SP Sound. “I have already registered the company again after what happened in these weeks,” clarifies the businessman.
“Illusion” is the word that the interviewees repeat, Juanjo included, although uncertainty about the future still exists. Of course, everyone is eager to return to the stage. “The expectation about the verbena in El Tablero is so great that the Acapulco orchestra hired us and they are going to reinforce security,” Álvarez expresses enthusiastically.
Tropin and Acapulco
The Tropin and Acapulco orchestras will be in charge of enlivening the first verbena in the return of the popular festivals to the Island in El Tablero. Moisés Leandro expresses the “incredible emotion” that he feels at this event. “It is what we have always dedicated ourselves to. We are artists and we live off the warmth of the people”, says the founder of the Tropin orchestra. The satisfaction of being able to return to the stage and the reception that the orchestras are having in Tenerife make the desire to grow even more. “These days have been total madness,” says Moisés Leandro. Likewise, he explains that they already have the whole summer covered with performances: «We already have everything taken in the months of July, August and September».
In addition to the dates that will be confirmed throughout these weeks, Tropin already has dances promised for, for example, the carnivals of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which this year, also due to the pandemic, will be held next June. On the other hand, the Acapulco orchestra also has a full agenda from mid-May to September. They’re even booked for a New Year’s Eve dance.
Grupo Pa ti is formed in 2022 and is made up of musicians from other formations. Previously it was a group of three people who sang but this year they transformed it into an orchestra. How do you feel being able to return to popular celebrations? Javier Alarcón, one of his musicians, replies that “a great satisfaction, pleasure, relief, happiness and immense gratitude”. «For us it is vital to make music. We are moved by emotions and reunions with colleagues. Now that I’m telling you, I get emotional thinking about it.”
The municipalities of Tenerife and the commissions of festivals of the towns and neighborhoods work in a hurry to recover the agenda. There are many orchestras that have been confirmed but have yet to be confirmed. One of the problems is that the party commissions, the main responsible in many towns and neighborhoods of the organization, have not yet been able to raise enough money for hiring. «It is an inconvenience that almost all the orchestras are experiencing», confesses Alarcón. “The commissions are asking the municipalities for help, but there are still doubts about whether they can get the money for the hiring,” he clarifies.
A “definitive” comeback
Moisés Leandro, from the Tropin Latin Music orchestra, hopes that the return of popular celebrations will be “definitive and there will be no more unforeseen events.” “We are very happy, really. A lot of work is coming out. We are really excited but always pending because we don’t trust it at all. What we all wish is that the restrictions have ended forever.
