Flamenco,The Heart and Soul of Andalucia

Flamenco, more commonly termed Sevilliana inknown as cante jondo, dates
Andalucia where it originated,from that period as well. The involvement of
is a Spanish art form par excellence.Itflamenco guitar also
incorporates three levels of expression,continued to steadily increase during this
cante, the song, baile, the dance and guitarra,period.From 1910-1955 Flamenco singing under
guitar playing. The gypsies ofwent something of a change and
Spain lay claim to its' creation and certainly theydeveloped into what became known as "opera
did, and still do, play an importantflamenca" with an easier kind of
part but it is easy to see other influences as well.music such as fandangos and cantes de ida y
For instance the popular songsvuelta. However these changes
and dances of Andaluica and of course sevenwere not welcomed by the intellectuals and in
centuries of Muslim occupation which1922 a contest to promote
could not pass without leaving lasting traces inauthentic cante jondo was organized in
many walks of life,Granada.1955 saw a Flamenco Renaissance with
not least the development of Flamenco. Morethe great performer, Antonio Mairena,
recently of course one can seeas its central figure. During this period some
the influence of jazz, salsa and bosa nova.It isoutstanding soloists made
generally agreed that its' origins can be tracedtheir way out of the cafes cantantes to the
back to the periodgreat theatres and concert
between 1765 and 1860 when the first Flamencohalls and the Flamenco guitar player really came
Schools were created ininto his own and moved
Cadizfrom being merely an accompanist to the dancer
Triana,(Sevilla) and Jerez de la Frontera. The firstto being a great artist in
mention of it in literaturehis own right.Paco de Lucia is one such virtuoso
is in the " Cartas Marruecas of Cadalso in 1774.from that period.Mass media and tourism has
Early Flamenco dancebrought Flamenco to the world stage but it
seems to have been purely vocal accompaniedstill remains a deeply intimate type of music and
only by the rhythmical clapping ofmovement and is still
hands known as "toque de palmas." Thebest appreciated with a small group of friends
introduction of Flamenco guitar musicaround midnight somewhere in
followed at a later stage and to a great extentAndalucia when there is nothing but the voice,
can be attributed to the influence ofthe guitar and the movement
composers such as Julian Arcas.The golden ageof the dancer in the moonlight.Article submitted
of Flamenco is generally held to be between 1869by Ruth Polak, the owner of
and 1910a site specializing in holiday apartments and villas
when it was performed and perfected to its'on the Costa del Sol and in Rural
definitive art form in the manyAndalucia. You will also find lots of information
cafes cantantes, or music cafes, to be foundabout Spain and Andalalucia
throughout Andalucia. The morein particular.
serious form which expresses deeper feelings,