As Meigas plays traditional tunes and songs from Galicia, which is the northwesternmost province in Spain, located north of Portugal. The music is traditionally played on the gaita – the Galician bagpipe – which is about half as loud as a Scottish bagpipe. The gaitas are accompanied by traditional percussion instruments: the tambourine-like pandeireta, the tambor (side drum) and the bombo (bass drum).
Galician culture has its roots in the Celtic cultures of early Europe, mixed with southern Spanish and Portugese influences. The result is a rich musical tradition of lively dance tunes and songs.
As Meigas’s members are Tesser Call, Cathy Chilcott and Donna Denevan – Gaitas (Spanish bagpipes), Deirdre McCarthy, and Brian Walker – percussion.