Cuerdas y Teclas

Cuerdas y Teclas is the project led by hurdy-gurdy player Jorge Garrido (La Rioja, Spain), a fourth-generation musician from a family devoted to Riojan folk and neighboring traditions. The project grew out of a clear reflection on what, how and why to play: the hurdy-gurdy is the starting point, joined by a self-made electric psaltery—a skateboard fitted with double-bass strings and Garrido’s own illustrations—whose sound and identity are unmistakably unique.

Its repertoire is rooted in the oral and musical tradition gathered from Riojan, Spanish and Sephardic songbooks, reimagined through Jorge’s personal musical vision. In concert and on record, the hurdy-gurdy takes the lead while the electric psaltery adds a distinct resonance; together they frame a language that is direct, acoustic and text-aware. Since 2021, the voice of Elena Aranoa has been part of the project, providing the closeness that connects tradition and the present, and reflecting her ongoing interest in bringing music, poetry and tradition together across disciplines. Mixing and mastering are by the award-winning producer Héctor Quidea.

Recent highlights include Centenario Nebrija at Teatro Real (Madrid, 2022), a Folkest showcase (Italy, 2023), Club Jamboree (London, 2023), a Japan tour (Tokyo–Kyoto, 2024) and the Escenario Vivo festival (La Rioja, 2024). The project has also been featured on RTVE’s Tarataña (26 May 2024).

Jorge Garrido’s background combines family tradition—120 years of inherited practice, a fourth-generation musician shaped by formal study and close listening—with a hands-on approach to building tools and repertoire. Earlier distinctions across styles (jazz, rock, folk) include first prizes at Audiciones 08 – Fundación Canal (Madrid, 2008, with New Mood Trío), Villa de Madrid Rock Competition (2010, with Naive), Music Model Competition – University of La Rioja (2011, with Bamboo Bebop), Gota Music (Logroño, 2012, with Tündra), among others. These experiences inform the project’s rhythmic precision and ensemble sense. Cuerdas y Teclas is, at heart, a clear proposition: the drone-led polyphony of the hurdy-gurdy, the singular voice of an electric psaltery built from a skateboard, and a vocal line that brings the text forward—honest roots that span time, appreciated today as part of our identity.

 

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