In Jijona, the Colla de dolçainers i tabaleters els Arreplegats, along with the Xixona Music Ensemble at L’Aliança perfectMusic Association, busotSM, La Magdalena, Tibi, and SM L’Aliança Macanes Tower, welcomed an invitation that brought together a historic cultural moment. The gathering, organized by the Xixona Music Association (UMX), was set to unfold this Sunday with the participation of a broad coalition of bands and musicians. The scene promised a festive atmosphere as a pasodoble would lead into a culminating performance of the town’s beloved festive hymn. The day was framed as a celebration of the local music scene and the rich tradition that defines Jijona, with leadership and coordination provided by Eladio Selles, who has directed UMX for the past five years and steered collaborations across multiple groups.
The Xixona Music Association, now marking its tenth anniversary as the town’s second marching band, has built a reputation for bringing together a diverse lineup of ensembles during celebrations that highlight the sweet character of the region. This year, the celebration included an unprecedented parade of light, color, and joy, drawing participation from about 200 musicians across six participating groups. The project stood out as a new milestone within a long line of commemorations, showcasing the town’s musical vitality and its ability to unite people through performance.
Two distinct routes were planned to fill the streets of Xixona with the sounds of brass, percussion, and traditional melodies on Sunday, May 21. The day would begin at 10:45 in the morning, opening with a stirring pasodoble and continuing through a sequence of pieces that would culminate around noon with a performance of the festive hymn, coordinated by a team of local musicologists, teachers, and composers who have long contributed to the region’s cultural education and preservation. The afternoon program aimed to balance energy and reflection, ensuring that audiences could experience both the lively procession and the more solemn moments of memory and celebration.
Leading the direction of the hymn was Eladio Selles, a respected musicologist and saxophonist who has guided the Xixona musical community as its first director for the last five years. Selles helped shape a program that reflected the town’s history while looking toward the future, as evidenced by the spring concert that marked his farewell at the Dalt Cinema in March. The event was planned in cooperation with the Xixona Town Hall, Nougats Coloma, and Filà Moros Vermells Xixona, reinforcing a sense of communal pride and collaboration across civic institutions and local cultural associations. The closing moment of the day included a wine reception to honor the participants, with Moros Vermells and five bands joining the Xixona Musical Union to provide a warm, celebratory finish. The gathering offered a vivid reminder that music remains a central thread in this town, coloring days with rhythm, light, and the unmistakable taste of its famous nougat.—Citations attributed to the organizing bodies and local cultural partners.