La Romàntica del Saladar group was founded in 1994 in Xàbia – half way between the roads to the heights of Montgó and The Mediterranean. The group, known as RAS, is noted for its music for all lines of entertainment not only to listen to but dance to.

This is why all the music interpreted by the group is so genuine, because it is their own melodies which range from majurkas to Polkas, jigs, habaneras, waltzes and the very Spanish pasodoble which the group performs anywhere in concerts, dance halls or as street troubadours around the towns in fiesta time.

The RAS group is mainly a wind instrument group inspired on the bands of the early twentieth century.

Their sound and performances have been heard in the Street Festival of Ondara, The International Popular Music Festival in Vilanova i la Geltrú, The International and Traditional Fair in Manresa, it has also been to the Solc in Lluçanès, the Traditional C.A.T. (Barcelona), and in Madrid and Portugal.

Brises del Saladar -their first recording- was published in 2001, and at the moment their second work is about to be published.

Percussion. Vicent Aparisi.
Tuba and percussion. Marc Bas “Catxi”.
Clarinet and tenor sax. Pep Bas “Coeta”
Trumpet and a thicker sound trumpet. Tolo Bas “Coeta” and Hector Buigues. “Calavera”
Tuba. Joan Buigues “Calavera”
Cymbals. Tolo cholbi “Raco”
Clarinet. Santi Colomer.
Bass drum. Salvador cruanyes “Sauro”
Clarinet. Ximo Monllor.
Horn. Joan Vicent Moragues.
Trombone. Quico Rosselló “Capi”

In 1994, some musicians began to get together in a little house in the area called Saladar in Xàbia.

It all started over dinner- a get together- to taste the wines and enjoy the breeze in their own vineyard.

From here on, this group began to play and interpret songs every Friday; at the same time they began to compose street marches for Carnaval, ballads and festive music for Easter; Music at sunrise, an improvisation of sounds for festive nights, others performed at meetings and concerts for special occasions at the seaside.

With all the above in mind, this romantic group have by doing so re-instated the old ways of how the seaside musicians celebrated in the fifties.

Abiding to this lovely spirit, the links to the area an its tradition, one can understand that a formal recording is not perhaps the best way of appreciating such musical talent and quality. These musicians cannot cram into a studio –they are in their local club in St. Vincent Street where to their heart’s delight and one can listen to their best interpretation of any kind of work.

This is a direct invitation to come, see and listen to the performance and interpretation of works in the lines and ways of making a fêtê of their musicality.

Toni Torregrossa

*(Visit also La Vespra i la Festa and De Sud a Sud ).

Visit also La Romantica del Saladar oficial web

Videoclip: Otos (València), 08/05/2007. Amateur video