A new museum dedicated to the Canarian musical string instrument, the Timple, is being planned for the former island capital of Teguise. Where tourists can also catch a current exhibition exploring the origins and evolution of this traditional miniature guitar.
The Timple is similar to a miniature guitar or the ukulele and is unique to the Canary Islands. And features prominently in traditional Canarian folk music – which can be enjoyed in the main Plaza de Constitucion in Teguise every Sunday when the weekly market takes place.
The instruments connections with Teguise go back many years, as one of the most skilled Timple craftsmen is a long term resident of the town. Simón Morales Tavio created many of these instruments, one of which is still owned by current day Timplista, Benito Cabrera.
Plans are now afoot to highlight the central role of the Timple in local culture with the creation of a new museum dedicated to the instrument. Whilst a current exhibition is being held at the Convento Santo Domingo in Teguise which runs until 25th March.
Included in the show is an impressive collection of Timples, with several examples of Morales Tavio’s creations hailing from the beginning of the twentieth century. Also forming part of this display is a ‘silent Timple’ and instruments created on the other islands in the archipelago.
Other exhibits being shown alongside the Timples are the ‘grandparents’ of this instrument, with several examples from Baroque Europe, such as the vihuela, an early guitar, the tiorba, a long-necked lute, the charango, a small guitar and the Venezuelan cuatro, a four-stringed guitar. In total, around forty instruments are incorporated into this display.
The exhibition is open from Monday to Sunday, with visiting times on Saturday restricted to between 10.00 and 15.00. During the rest of the week opeing is from 10.00 until 19.00.
