The guitarist (tocoar) keeps the rhythm (compás) necessary to the dancer’s individual rhythmic cadences, accompanying (and, when the performance space is large, even following) the dancer. Latin American influence appears in later genres such as the rumbas gitanas and the colombianas. Flamenco, form of song, dance, and instrumental (mostly guitar) music commonly associated with the Andalusian Roma (Gypsies) of southern Spain. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The alboreás is traditionally sung only at weddings and is considered unlucky on other occasions. This extraordinary state is enhanced by rhythmic hand clapping and encouraging interjections (jaleo) from the audience and fellow performers. Your email address will not be published. The cante hondo are directly related to the cante flamenco, and the latter may be considered the general rubric of classification. The golden age of flamenco is usually considered to be the period between roughly 1780 and 1845. cos. a style of dancing, characteristic of the Andalusian Gypsies, that is strongly rhythmic and involves vigorous actions, as clapping the hands and stamping the feet. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. "Speculations are varied and colorful about the connection between the bird, the people, and the gypsy dance of Andalusia. Flamenco is a style of entertainment with song, music and dance. What you need to know about flamenco guitar, Donkeys, Lightning and Piranhas — Nicknames in Flamenco, Flamenco compás — and why it’s the key to understanding flamenco, Best-Rated Private Flamenco Tours in Madrid. In a flamenco performance, there is usually singing, guitar, clapping and dancing, while other secondary instruments include percussion (flamenco cajón), piano or violin. Originally, it was the traditional dance and music of the Andalusian gitanos (gypsies). Thus, the serious soleares, a descendant of the much older cañas, gave rise to the light alegrías, from which developed other light-song types, such as the bulerías. Their centuries-long cultural intermingling produced the unique art form known as flamenco. Were the first blues recordings made by women? The term derives from "duen de casa" (master of the house), which was also related to an elf or goblin-like creature in Spanish and Latin American folklore. So, what is flamenco? The essence of flamenco is cante, or song. As a kid, I had this odd pastime where I would look at my watch to see the seconds count down, then look away for a couple of minutes while counting Read more, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). It is characterized by profound emotion and deals with themes of death, anguish, despair, or religious doubt. And each palo sets the tone, rhythm and mood of the music and dancing. Was Carl Perkins one of the founders of rockabilly? This is how it goes: you start listening profusely Read more, Let me paint a picture. What may well reveal the ancient origins of flamenco are the gestures of the profound dance (baile grande), in which the arm, hand, and foot movements closely resemble those of classical Hindu dance of the Indian subcontinent. Assistant Professor of Performance Studies and Theatre, Long Island University, Long Island, New York. It exists in three forms: Cante, the song, Baile, the dance, and Guitarra, guitar playing. Flamenco is one of the most characteristic elements of Spanish culture, especially throughout the southern region of Andalucía. While it is improvisational, you may also develop routines. Its foundation is in Andalusia in Spain. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The woman's flamenco costume is extravagant and styled for the expressive requirements of the rhythmic dance steps. Historically, it has always been the musical outlet of the poor and oppressed. Flamenco originated in a family setting, and not until the mid-1800s did it become a public art form. So what does flamenco actually look and sound like? It has three branches: cante (song), baile (dance), and toque (the art of guitar playing). Singing was then the primary aspect of flamenco, dancing and musical accompaniment being secondary. From the Cambridge English Corpus The rhythm guitar plays a flamenco-like rhythm, … It generally possesses a livelier, more gritty sound compared to the classical guitar. These migrants brought with them musical instruments, such as tambourines, bells, and wooden castanets, and an extensive repertoire of songs and dances. That's precisely why several of our schools offer a one-of-a-kind Spanish + Flamenco course, where you can learn Spanish while learning how to dance flamenco. Baile, or dance, has been the dominant element of flamenco since that time, though it is never performed without accompaniment. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, flamenco - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). flamenco a style of dancing; a style of vocal or instrumental music originating in southern Spain Not to be confused with: flamingo – aquatic bird with long legs and neck, webbed feet, and pinkish to … The percussive tapping on the instrument requires a snappy, bright top such as spruce, as well as the addition of “golpeadores” (clear, sometimes colored tap plates) to protect the top from the player’s fingernails. Required fields are marked *. You will see flamenco danced in South America, in the same way you'll see it danced in the US, Europe and Australia—as a modern import. I became hooked on flamenco largely because of flamenco guitar. Let me give you a brief-ish answer. Author of. Flamenco music is characterized by its use of foot stamping and hand clapping. Flamenco, form of song, dance, and instrumental (mostly guitar) music commonly associated with the Andalusian Roma (Gypsies) of southern Spain. Flamenco is a Spanish art form typical of Andalucía, the southern region of Spain, made up of 3 elements: song (cante), dance (baile) and music (toque). Flamenco dancing is an incredibly emotive dance style, with the dancer always striving to express his or her emotions through movement. A prime example of the fanatical fantasy of flamenco can be seen in Prosper Mérimée’s Carmen (1845). Translate What is flamenco dancing?. What had been an essentially outdoor, outsider, family-oriented activity that focused on cante was transformed beginning in 1842, when Silverio Franconetti founded the first café cantante, Café sin Nombre, in Sevilla (Seville). Flamenco is Spanish, from mainland Spain—in fact, one small part of Spain: Andalucia. The guitar music that usually accompanies a dance in this style. There are still very few who, in a and planned form, come to Andalucia to enjoy the flamenco tourism. Cities known for their flamenco include Seville, Granada, Cádiz, and Málaga. In Spain they encountered the rich cultures of the Sephardic Jews and the Moors. Flamenco may even have developed from one of the Andalusian classic forms of music. The largest element of the costume is the bata de cola, which is a long skirt that weighs 10 pounds, trails 5 feet behind the dancer and is full of flowing, colorful ruffles. If you’re in Madrid, check my flamenco calendar to see what performances are coming up! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. ), Spanish-born American flamenco guitarist and the first to present that style as serious music to concert audiences.…. After the mid-19th century, flamenco song was usually accompanied by guitar music and a palo seco (Spanish: “dry stick,” a stick that was beat on the floor to keep time) and a dancer performing a series of choreographed dance steps and improvised styles. Most deeply associated with Gitano flamenco tradition are the cantes grandes, such as the siguiriyas gitanas; the saetas, adopted from Spanish religious processions; and the martinetes, an early song type created in the environment of the forge, in which the beat of the hammer against the anvil reflects the pain and sense of persecution felt by the perpetual outsider. During a flamenco performance, you may hear a flamenco singer say, for instance, “alegría”, “bulería” or “soleá”, in order to inform the audience what palo is going to be performed next. This technique is unique to flamenco guitar, and doesn’t find a truly comparable counterpart in classical guitar technique. In between these two options, there are also smaller venues that will from time to time host flamenco performances (such as bars or nightclubs). Flamenco is a passionate, deeply emotional mixture of song and dance. Flamenco is a folk art and culture from Spain. These qualities offer the genre an expressiveness that moves all spectators, regardless of where they are from or whether they understand the language. Its origins are still murky, as there isn’t … Some songs/palos will be somber, others jolly, some will be fast, others slow. Among the many great early 20th-century performers are La Argentina (Antonia Mercé), Vicente Escudero, Carmen Amaya, La Argentinita (Encarnación López), José Greco, and Pilar López, as well as the troupes of Antonio and Rosario (Antonio Ruiz Soler and Rosario Florencia Pérez Podilla) and Ximénez-Vargas (Roberto Ximénez and Manolo Vargas). 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