Music of Andorra

The Principality of Andorra is home to folk dances like the contrapàs and marratxa, which survive in Sant Julià de Lòria especially. Andorran folk music has similarities to the music in nearby regions of France and Spain, but is especially Catalan in character, especially in the presence of dances like the sardana. Other Andorran folk dances include contrapàs in Andorra la Vella and Saint Anne's dance in Escaldes-Engordany.^[1]

Radio Nacional d’Andorra runs both Radio Andorra and the music station Andorra Música.

Music festivals in Andorra include the ChamJam Music Festival, Ordino and the jazz Escaldes-Engordany International Jazz Festival. Violinist Gérard Claret is the director of the Young National Orchestra of Cambra d'Andorra.

The national anthem of Andorra is "El Gran Carlemany" (Great Charlemagne).^[2] It was adopted on 8 September 1914, the feast day of Andorra's patron saint, the Virgin of Meritxell.

Eurovision

Main article: Andorra in the Eurovision Song Contest

Andorra did not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest until 2004, when the national broadcaster RTVA entered the competition. In 2004, Spaniard Marta Roure's "Jugarem A Estimar-Nos" was both the first Andorran and the first Catalan language entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest, though it failed to qualify for the final. In 2005, Andorra entered again with ("La Mirada Interior") sung by the Dutch singer Marian van de Wal. Again, Andorra did not come through the semi-final round.^[3] In 2006, Andorra achieved its worst result up to date, when Jenny came out last in the semifinals with the song "Sense Tu". In 2007 Andorra were represented by punk band Anonymous and the song "Salvem el món", but once more failed to pass through the semi-final round. However, they came 12th among 28 countries which was the best result for Andorra to date. This year they were represented by Gisela with the song 'Casanova' and although favourites to qualify, they failed once more to pass to the final. In 2009, Andorra selected Danish singer Susanne Georgi to represent the principality in the contest. Other contestants including Andorran born Josep Lluis and ex-resident Jack Lucien were also lined up for this place. Andorra decided to withdraw from the 2010 edition due to lack of funding from the TV station's shareholders and due to spending cuts within the network.

References

1. ^ "For Culture Lovers". FEVA. http://www.feva.ad/Andorra/Angles/Andorra03_culture.htm. Retrieved September 28, 2005. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "Andorra". National Anthem Reference Page. http://david.national-anthems.net/ad.htm. Retrieved September 28, 2005. 
3. ^ "Andorra". All Kinds of Everything. http://www.keithm.utvinternet.ie/Andorra.htm. Retrieved September 28, 2005. 

• MIDI samples of traditional music from the Iberian peninsula Includes some Andorran folksongs collected by Palmira Jaquetti.