ThePrincipality ofAndorra is home to folk dances like thecontrapàs andmarratxa, which survive inSant Julià de Lòria especially. Andorran folk music has similarities to the music in nearby regions of France and Spain, but is especiallyCatalan in character, especially in the presence of dances like thesardana. Other Andorran folk dances includecontrapàs inAndorra la Vella andSaint Anne's dance inEscaldes-Engordany.[1]
Radio Nacional d’Andorra runs bothRadio Andorra and the music stationAndorra Música.
Music festivals in Andorra include theChamJam Music Festival,Ordino and the jazzEscaldes-Engordany International Jazz Festival. ViolinistGérard Claret is the director of theYoung National Orchestra of Cambra d'Andorra.
Thenational anthem of Andorra is "El Gran Carlemany" (GreatCharlemagne).[2] It was adopted on 8 September 1914, thefeast day of Andorra'spatron saint, theVirgin of Meritxell.[citation needed]
Theprogressive metal bandPersefone is one of the most notable music groups to originate from Andorra.
Andorra (through national broadcasterRTVA) has participated in theEurovision Song Contest on only six occasions, from 2004 until 2009. In 2004, SpaniardMarta Roure's "Jugarem A Estimar-Nos" was the firstCatalan language entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest, and Andorra remains the onlyparticipating country presenting songs in Catalan. Andorra did not progress beyond the semi-finals in any of its six attempts; its best result was in 2007, when punk bandAnonymous and the song "Salvem el món" finished 12th among 28 countries in the semi-final. Andorra decided to withdraw from the 2010 edition due to lack of funding from the TV station's shareholders and due to spending cuts within the network, and has not returned.
