La Laguna International Plucked String Festival Concludes with Germán López Performance

The third annual Ciudad de La Laguna International Plucked String Festival (Ficup) concludes this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Teatro Leal. The final performance will feature timple player Germán López and guitarist Antonio Toledo, wrapping up a series dedicated to showcasing the technical and expressive range of string instruments.

López’s career is defined by his versatility, moving easily between symphonic music, jazz, and urban genres. This adaptability reflects how the traditional Canarian timple is finding a new place in modern music. Currently, López is working on his Maridaje project with pianist Augusto Báez and collaborating with the group Taburiente. He notes that the timple is increasingly featured in contemporary productions, pointing to his own work with the Gran Canaria Philharmonic and the contributions of artists like Yul Ballesteros.

Beyond performing, López is dedicated to music education. He leads the Un Timple en mi Cole initiative for primary school students and teaches masterclasses at Ficup alongside instrumentalists Derque Martín and David Duque. He believes that Canarian cultural identity now has a global reach through urban music, a trend highlighted by the recent success of artists like Quevedo.

At the heart of López’s work is his ability to blend folk traditions—particularly the folía—with diverse musical styles. For López, who plays instruments crafted by Jesús Machín, music is about artistic honesty, improvisation, and the natural connection between performers. His approach highlights how the timple has evolved from a strictly folk instrument into a dynamic solo instrument with a growing repertoire.