The Cabildo of Fuerteventura has presented the programme for the third national timple meeting, scheduled to take place from 22 to 25 October. This event will feature a variety of activities including concerts, exhibitions, talks, round tables, and educational workshops aimed at celebrating the timple and its role in Canarian musical heritage.
The announcement was made by the island's president, Lola García, alongside the Minister of Culture, Rayco León, renowned timple player Domingo ‘El Colorao’, representing the National Timple Association, and Marcos Hormiga, author of a publication related to the event.
Organised by the Culture Department of the Cabildo, the event will be held at the Palace of Training and Congresses in Fuerteventura, under the artistic direction of Domingo Rodríguez ‘El Colorao’. The meeting aims to promote the timple as a key element of Canarian music and popular culture, while providing spaces for learning, knowledge exchange, and the dissemination of new musical proposals.
During the presentation, President Lola García emphasised the timple's value as part of the collective memory of the Canary Islands, stressing the importance of introducing it to younger generations. “Some instruments make music, while others, like the timple, tell the stories of a people. Let us continue to ensure it resonates, evokes emotions, and instils pride in the new generations of Canarians,” she stated.
Culture Minister Rayco León added that “the timple is one of the most distinctive elements of traditional Canarian music and has a potential that we often overlook. Therefore, it is vital to create spaces for thought, knowledge transmission, and outreach regarding this instrument.”
Domingo ‘El Colorao’ highlighted the diverse programme and the intention to extend some activities beyond the four days of the meeting. “We approach this edition with great enthusiasm and new challenges. We want the timple to reach new generations and for the meeting to continue throughout the year, with activities in educational centres and student participation,” he noted.
Marcos Hormiga praised the publication dedicated to the timple, which compiles contributions from individuals linked to its history, manufacturing, and performance. “This is a unique experience in the Canary Islands, as no magazine has been exclusively dedicated to our national instrument before. This second issue explores its history and future prospects,” he explained.
Programme highlights
The meeting will kick off on Thursday, 22 October, at 12:00 with the inauguration and the presentation of the second Timple Notebook in the Chillida Room of the Palace of Training and Congresses. Later that afternoon, at 16:00, the exhibition ‘Timple, tradition and vanguard’ will be inaugurated by craftsman David Sánchez, showcasing the evolution of construction techniques for this instrument and the dialogue between traditional methods and new manufacturing trends.
The Thursday schedule will continue with a workshop on creating timples from recycled materials, led by Adán Moreno, at 17:00 in the Insular Music School. The day will conclude with a concert by Pino&Pino at 20:30 in the Symphony Hall, presenting a musical proposal that incorporates the charango and connects Andean tradition with other repertoires.
On Friday, 23 October, the day will begin with a talk titled ‘The charango or baroque guitar of the Andes’ by Andrés Pino at 12:00. In the afternoon, David Sánchez will give a talk on the maintenance and care of instruments at 17:00, followed by the presentation of the book ‘Duets for timple and guitar’ and a performance by Chromatic Duo at 19:00. The day will end with the show ‘SURCO’ by Domingo ‘El Colorao’ at 21:00 in the Symphony Hall.
Saturday, 24 October, will feature more educational activities and discussions about the present and future of the timple. At 10:00, Derque Martín will conduct a beginner's masterclass on playing the timple, followed by an improvisation session led by Pedro Ageno at 12:00, both at the Insular Music School. In the afternoon, a round table will be held at 17:00 in the Chillida Room with timple players and luthiers discussing sound, technique, and the current state of the timple. At 19:00, the book ‘History of the Canarian timple’ by Víctor Landeira will be presented, in collaboration with the Canarian Museum. The day will conclude with a performance by Pedro Ageno and his project ‘Molinos de Paso’ at 21:00 in the Symphony Hall.
On Sunday, 25 October, Manuel Cerpa will present a talk titled ‘Flamenco: Root and Freedom’ at 12:00 in the Chillida Room. In the afternoon, Domingo ‘El Colorao’ will lead a traditional strumming masterclass at 17:00 in the Insular Music School. The musical closure will feature the Trío de Raíz, consisting of Alberto González on timple, Gabriel Rodríguez on flute, and Manuel Cerpa on guitar, at 20:00 in the Symphony Hall.
Registrations for the workshops are now open. The meeting includes four workshops and masterclasses: creating timples from recycled materials with Adán Moreno; beginner's timple playing with Derque Martín; improvisation with Pedro Ageno; and traditional strumming with Domingo ‘El Colorao’. Prior registration is required to participate.
With this third edition, Fuerteventura reaffirms the timple's central role in a cultural programme that acknowledges its heritage value and its capacity for evolution, embracing new languages while maintaining its connection to the musical identity of the Canary Islands.
