Flamenco
Flamenco music and dancing has ceased to be a local art form to become a world favourite. This Andalusian style, originated from the mixture of various popular cultures, became a major artistic form in mid 19th century, and plays nowadays a leading role in the field of «World Music», influencing the current work of musicians of the most diverse cultural background.
A musical style based on the original Mediterranean folklore of Andalusia blended with Hindu, Jewish, Gypsy and Arabic influences, Flamenco developed throughout the last two centuries to reach its present day quality and sophistication. World-famous performers currently present flamenco dancing, whose present day forms were mainly created and developed during 20th century, on stages in Spain as well as Japan, Argentina, Australia or the United States.
Together with literary commonplaces such as Carmen, medieval castles, gypsies or bullfighting, Flamenco has always been a popular art form for foreign tourists and visitors, adding to the appealing world of Romantic Spanish exoticism. Part of its appeal is the emotional load of a Flamenco performance. Unlike folklore or traditional popular music, Flamenco is mainly a solo form of expression, with an individual artist playing his or her passionate number over an accompanying rhythm of guitar, hand clapping, voice or percussion. But also it is a means for joyful «fiesta».
Flamenco shows vary from group performances, in which different generations of artists share the stage in a family-like party atmosphere, to concerts by solo singers, or more sophisticated productions with choreographs performed by dancers professionally trained in Flamenco as well as modern dance or ballet. Current Flamenco trends is fully involved in intercultural research, shoulder to shoulder with jazz, rock, classical, new age or ethnic music.
"Wine, sentiment, guitar and poetry makes my country’s songs"
(Manuel Machado)
