an Andalusian Musical Expression
By Maria
Flamenco is an art born in Andalusia, Spain as a result of a fusion of cultures that coexisted in that land for centuries: Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Gypsy.
Flamenco is a musical expression that transmits feelings, and there are a wide number of adjectives to describe it: vibrant, agile, spontaneous, exciting, intense, etc. Flamenco brings together the sound of deep song, accompanying guitar, a powerful kind of tap dance, complex, clapped rhythms and the spectacular dance of major artists, many anonymous. It is not a homogeneous form of music. Rather, it consists of a number of variants and diverse styles that, together, form a Spanish sign of identity, a musical genre capable of expressing the passion of an entire people.
People say that is an art that cannot be learned. It is an art that someone is born with, that they are brought up with and are surrounded by from birth, at home, with their family, fiestas and on a day-to-day basis. These artists live and breathe flamenco. It is constantly in their lives.
Since its origin, Flamenco has evolved and there has been a fusion with other musical styles or it has incorporated instruments from other cultures. Personally, I think it is very interesting to know that it was born of people living in a crossroad of cultures and I can assure you that it is a unique spectacle. In 2010 Flamenco was declared as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Recently, I listen to the flamenco version of the song: You’ve Got A Friend In Me (Hay Un Amigo En Mi), of the group Gipsy Kings and my children love it.
To see Flamenco music and dance in action, visit:
Violin Flamenco & Dancer with castanets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZR7CfEu-Ic
Ballet Flamenco in Andalusia, Spain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm9IYSDxagc
Flamenco dancer Sara Baras
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLnEjHuMFsA
Photo curtesy of http://www.andalucia.com/flamenco/home.htm.