Flamenco
An Introduction
Flamenco is an individualistic, yet structured folk art from Andalucía, which is often improvised and spontaneous. The
song, dance and guitar are blended together by the passionate
rhythms of southern Spain which is flamenco's geographical
birthplace.
Gypsies say “ it’s in the blood”, but Spain’s famous poet and
writer Fredrico Garcia Lorca, called flamenco one of the most
gigantic inventions of the Spanish people. The tragic
lyrics and tones of flamenco clearly reflect the sufferings
of the gypsy people.
It is thought that the gypsies who ended up in Andalucía
travelled from India and Pakistan acquiring the name "gitano"
from Egiptano, the old Spanish word for Egyptian.
Apart from the Indian and Jewish influences, the Arabs made an
immense contribution to the moulding of the form and content
of the flamenco song of today, which is not
surprising since they ruled Spain for seven centuries. Yet
flamenco is in its present form only two hundred years old.
The source of flamenco lies in its singing tradition, so the
singers role is very important. The flamenco guitar was used
originally as an instrument of accompaniment. Today solo
flamenco guitar has developed as a separate art. While
some purists disapprove of the fashionable attempts to blend
flamenco with jazz, blues, rock and pop music, it is no
wonder that so many young people embrace it wholeheartedly.
Apart from songs delivered from different regions such as
fandangos from Huelva, Alegrias from Cadiz, there are broadly
speaking two main styles in Flamenco: the "jondo" - profound
and serious, the cry of people oppressed for many
centuries; and the "chico" - happy, light and often humorous.
The song "el cante" is most important as it is considered to
be the source which gives inspiration to the guitar playing
"el toque" and the dance "el baile".
Flamenco dance is by nature oriental, so differs fundamentally
from other well established European dance forms. complex
rhythmic patterns are created by a sophisticated footwork
technique, so the flamenco dancer wears special shoes or
boots with dozens of nails driven to the soles and heels.
The ladies wear long costumes often with many frills and practice
for hours their elegant arm and hand movements.
In much of the more serious flamenco, there is a release of pent
up hatred of persecution and often an evocation of death
( particularly in "Seguiriyas"). the dancers job will
be to project the mood of the song within the strict
time signature, but not interpret the meaning of the song
with specific gestures, as would the Indian Katak dancer.
The best way to become familiar with the complexities of flamenco
singing (cante) and feeling, is perhaps by going to
a "tablao" (flamenco show), a flamenco circle, or to one of
the countless festivals that are organised every summer. The
Sacromonte gypsy caves at Granada, though very
tourist-orientated, provide an unforgettable experience and
there are many flamenco circles (peñas) throughout the region.
Together with Corpus Christi, Granada holds the oldest flamenco
festival in Andalucía. In summer, there are singing contests
such as that of Estepona, Fuengirola and Rincón de la
Victoria, or Carchelejo, Vilches and Linares, and the
Gazpacho Andaluz at Morón and the Muestra de Cante at La
Línea. Some of the most important festivals are held in
September, such as that of Adra, Villanueva del Arzobispo and
the Velá de la Fuensanta in Córdoba; at the time of the
Goyesca bullfights at Ronda, it holds a "festival de
cante grande" for real connoisseurs. The "Fiesta de la
Buleria" at Jerez (bulería is a type of dance and song), the
"Potaje" of Utrera and "La Caracolá" at Lebrija are some
of the important occasions of gypsy "cante". And every
other year, the most famous figures of flamenco are heard
in Sevilla at the "Bienal del Arte Flamenco.
Flamenco Dance Flamenco Dance Artists and Productions •Antonio Gades •Javier Latorre - "La Fuerza del Destino" •Jose Antonio •Antonio Canales - "Torero" - "Gitano" •Cristina Hoyos •Maria Rosa •Blanca del Rey •Antonio Ruiz •Paco Mora - "Lorca Baila" •Merche Esmeralda •Manuela Carrasco •Simón el Rubio - "Latido de Corazón" •Joaquin Cortés - "Pasión Gitana" Flamenco Guitar •Vicente Amigo •Paco de Lucia •Gerardo Nuñez •Manolo Sanlucar •Rafael Riqueni •Sabicas •Niño Ricardo •Ramon Montoya •Lisa de Granada Flamenco Song •Camarón de le Isla •Carmen Linares •José Mercé •Manuel Torre •Antonio Mairena
*Acknowledgement to The Andalucian Page for Subject Content - Gracias*