🌍 World Music — Galician

The music of Galicia, in northwestern Spain, is notably characterised by the gaita bagpipe, the pandeireta tambourine, drums and a substantial repertoire of songs and dances. The muiñeira, the Galician xota and songs called alalás are among its most representative forms. Cantareiras and pandeireteiras, often groups of women combining voice and tambourine, played an essential role in oral transmission. This music shares affinities with other Atlantic traditions and participates widely in the contemporary Celtic scene, but it remains above all a distinct tradition tied to the Galician language. In 2026, traditional Galician music and dance received strengthened heritage recognition from the regional authorities.