"Klika in America" Tribute

Steering committee:
Bakersfield coordinator: Jean Pierre Dalia: 661.872.4179
Chino Coordinator: Dominique Camou: camouD@aol.com
SF Coordinator: Mark Sorhouet: klika@basqueclub.com
Pierre Igoa: pigoa2@csub.edu
Jean Louis Indart: jeanlouis@wildblue.net 
John Ysursa: info@nabasque.org     

Inspired by the tribute to the Wyoming Basque Sheepherders at the NABO Convention in Rock Springs in 2005, this year's NABO Convention hosted by the Chino Basque Club (schedule soon to be released) will include a special tribute to all those who have taken part in the Klika tradition. While each community has recognized its own, we have never come together as a larger Basque-American community to acknowledge the contribution of these performers.  It's time.

The objectives are the tribute are threefold:

1. To honor the Basque-American Klika performers both living and deceased, for their contribution in making the Klika tradition come alive here in America.

2. To look toward to the future of KLIKA IN AMERICA. This is a call to both young and old - to join/participate!  Sustaining this unique tradition will require more young people to pick up the drums and bugles and march along.

3. To have a good time with the music.

Previous and current players will be honored, and it will be an opportunity for their story to be told.  Not many know the origins of this Basque tradition. It is a very localized tradition in just a handful of towns in Baxenafarroa and Lapurdi--and now four towns here in America! So this segment will be introduced by a video show to briefly lay out the story of the klika for the audience. It will endeavor to capture the stories of how San Francisco, Chino and Bakersfield Klikas (and now Rocklin, CA) brought this military music tradition to life in America.

The task at hand is the collection of all names of past & present Klika participants for inclusion in the festival booklet.  Then in addition, for those able to actually attend that evening, certificates will be presented acknowledging their contribution. Then of course, the music will follow when all assembled would play a tune or two (the next day is the major performance for the Klika with Sunday Basque Mass).  Photographic memories (digitial copies) will also be on display. 

 
For each member we hope to compile the following:
Name:
Birthplace:
Age:
Primary klika affiliation:        __Bakersfield __Chino __SF __Rocklin
Secondary klika affiliation:   __Bakersfield __Chino __SF __Rocklin
Instrument(s) usually played in performances:
__ Bugle __French horn __ Bass horn __Drum __Bass drum __Cymbals
OR __ Makilaria

Where did you learn: __ French Army  __ European homeland  __Here in U.S.
Year first participated in a klika:
etc.

Upcoming organizational meetings & rehearsals:
Feb. 16 (Sat) in San Francisco: TBA
May 24 (Sat) in Bakersfield: TBA

Aug 30 (Sat) in Chino: Tribute
Aug 31 (Sun) in Chino:  Performances all together and each klika on their own if they'd like

Klika foundings?
1962-San Francisco
1967-Chino
1975-Bakersfield
2007-Rocklin
 

After an initial organizational/brainstorming meeting, the tentative plan is now to arrange two meetings/rehearsals for all those interested in participating. The first will be in San Francisco (Feb. 16 TBA), followed by another in Bakersfield (May 24 TBA) then on to Chino for the Convention (Aug. 30-31 TBA)

Help us get the word out to those klikalariak your life, and have them get in touch with the local organizers to provide information. It will make for a special tribute, as we gather during the Convention festival to celebrate our Basque folk traditions.  Check back soon on NABO´s web page for some more updates!

More info

Chek out NABO web page.