A Quick Look At Flamenco
Flamenco is the aural fingerprint of Spain. It is characterised by ecstatic pain. The details of its roots have not been satisfactorily isolated, but it came to life in a fusion of sixteenth-century outcasts: Jews, gypsies and Muslims who hid in the mountains of Andalucía, in southern Spain, to escape the national Christian enthusiasm that wanted to kill or convert them.
Typically the music revolves around voices with guitar accompaniment, but recent fusions have brought new instruments into the mix. The pain in the music comes through the quivering, expressive, fearless, revelatory and personal tone adopted by the singer. Over time, the characteristic bravura guitar playing has become a style that can also stand apart on its own.
Some terminology.
Andalucía / Andalusia - An area of southern Spain which shares borders with the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Formerly a centre of Moorish civilisation, it became an autonomous region in 1981.
Cantaora - flamenco singer
Cante jondo - 'deep song,' the passionate style of singing common to flamenco.
Duende - an unexpected moment in performance during which the passions of the musician and the audience fuse into climax - an orgasm delivered through the ears and into the heart, short-circuiting resistance as it goes.
Jaleo - audience encouragement in the form of shouts, snapping fingers, clapping, and so on, which accompanies and enhances a performance
Juerga - an informal private gathering at which flamenco music is made, to the enjoyment of all.
Neuvo Flamenco - 'New flamenco.' Despite the establishment of a Chair of Flamencology in 1958 and a national cante jondo competition in 1956, the popularity of flamenco music suffered during the middle of the twentieth century when young Spanish musicians gravitated toward American rock 'n' roll and the government of Francisco Franco (formerly a Falangist but not a flamenco fanatic) used flamenco-lite to attract foreign tourists. After Franco's death in 1975 the music recovered its popular appeal thanks to the efforts of a number of musicians. This revival led a series of fusions: salsa-flamenco, blues-flamenco, rock-flamenco, electronica-flamenco, a bit of everything-flamenco. 'Neuvo Flamenco' was the blanket name given to these experiments.
Palo - denotes a style of flamenco. For instance, you have one palo (style) which is known as fandango, another palo which is known as tango, another palo which is known as soleares, and so on.
Try these sites for more information:
http://www.flamenco-world.com
http://www.flamenco.org
http://www.xs4all.nl/~damian/ring.html
