A documentary about a Maastricht student music group; that is quite special. Another thing that is special: Tunas always consisted of men, didn’t they? It is a Spanish tradition that has existed since the second half of the Middle Ages: male students who serenaded on the streets and played music in exchange for food, a roof over their heads, and money to pay for their studies.
The latter one is no longer a thing, but at Spanish universities the tunas are still a well-known phenomenon. Every faculty has its own group, characterised by the colours of the costume. It has become a modest export product and Maastricht has had its own group for decades. But this particular Maastricht tuna – to be true, trained by their ‘padrinos’ (godfathers) of the male variant – is much more recent and consists completely of women. Today, it is their turn. “We are the first to have our own documentary,” they say proudly.
Although they do sing in Spanish, not all the members are fluent in the language. “Some have no idea what they are reeling off,” says chairwoman Mathilde de Hennin de Boussu Walcourt. To become a member, you don’t need to speak Spanish. You only need to be able to sing. Another member: “If you know how to laugh and have fun, you have everything you need.”
In addition to touring past the sidewalk cafes, the women also put on regular performances. For example, at the PAS festival, last summer. “That is where we were discovered by documentary maker Mark Stevens,” says Hil Oomen, tuna’s event coordinator. Why this group? “I wanted to make something about amateur groups commissioned by Cultuurmakers Maastricht. The music is fun and they also have a link with the university” was Stevens’ reaction on the telephone. Oomen: “The documentary can soon be seen on various (social) media and hopefully also on L1.”