Music from Spain
Flamenco is the most haunting and passionate way to tell a story. Flamenco was first mentioned in literature in 1774 in the "Cartas Marruecas" of Cadalso. Flamenco schools first came into being in the late 1700's/early 1800's in the area of Cadiz, Jerez de la Frontera and Triana, near Seville in the region of Andalucia, southern Spain. Flamenco is attributed by many to the Gypsy and Moorish influences in Spain on the regional Andalucian folkloric music; the term "Flamenco" was used to denominate the Gypsies of Cadiz in the early 1800's. Flamenco began then to be heard in the regional coffee houses and taverns, entering its "Golden Age" in the late 1800's.
Flamenco is full of intrigue: beautiful and elaborate costumes, gritty, passionate voices, the clapping of hands, the syncopated stomp of feet, the rich and intricate guitar fingerwork, the intensity of sidelong glances and the deep pool of dark eyes peering over the top of a lacey fan.
There is Flamenco "Baile" (dance), "Cante" (song) and "Toque" (guitar). Its instruments are the guitar, the castanet, hands and feet. There are many styles of Flamenco including: tangos, seguiriyas, soleares, alegrías, malagueñas, fandangos, zapateados, rondeñas, bulerías, serranas, tientos, tarantos, farruca, sevillanas, colombianas and villancicos.
Noted Flamenco guitarists: Manolo Caracol, Paco de Lucia, Tomatito, Andres Segovia, Ramon Montoya, Manolo Sanlúcar, Sabicas, Paco Cepero and Manolo de Huelva.
Noted Flamenco singers: Chocolate, Vicente Soto Sordera, Pele, Aurora Vargas, El Terremoto de Jerez, Camarón de la Isla, Naranjito de Triana, Rafael Romero, Enrique Morente
Noted Flamenco dancers: Carmen Amaya, José Greco, Antonio Gades, Christina Hoyos, Paco Peña, Pepito Vargas, Paco Mora, Maria José Franco.
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Spanish music is by all means not only Flamenco. Spain has also contributed highly to the music of the world with its classical composers such as Albeniz, Enrique Granados, Manuel de Falla, and Joaquín Rodrigo and outstanding opera singers, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, and Montserrat Caballé, among many others. In the north of Spain, the provinces of Galicia and Asturias were both occupied at one time by people of Celtic origin, who left a rich heritage of a plaintive and beautiful music in which the Gaita, or bagpipes, figures prominently. In other areas of the country, the Sephardic influence prevails, with it's haunting vocals, bagpipes, flutes, stringed instruments, percussions and the zanfona.
