I won’t pretend to speak with any authority about the Celtic presence in Northwestern Spain. I’ll leave that for Deirdre Saravia, especially regarding anything to do with Celtic music in Galicia, this place of forests, streams and mountains through with the Pilgrims of the Camino de Santiago pass. My curiosity was certainly tickled when I heard through Jack Morgan that some sources report there are more pipers in Galicia than in all of Scotland.

As the geography began to change 7 or 8 days ago, marking the transition from the vast Meseta region of long views and rolling high plateau to the green mountains of Galicia, my ears were keenly listening for Celtic sounds. I began hearing it first on the radios at various villages through which I passed. But then, just a few days ago, I heard the distant sound of pipes. Is that someone’s stereo, maybe music wafting from one of the interesting communes I’ve visited in the area, or is this a musician in the middle of an enchanted forest? It turned out to be the latter, and I was thrilled to find a piper in very interesting costume, playing for passing Pilgrims. I listened appreciatively and tossed several Euros into his open case. Whether there might be other pipers ready to emerge from the mist and the green of the mountains, or perhaps an Irish band, I certainly am hoping so.