Flamenco (Spanish pronunciation: [flaˈmeŋko]) is a genre of Spanish music, song and dance from Andalusia, in southern Spain, that includes cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), baile (dance) and palmas (handclaps).
First mentioned in literature in 1774, the genre grew out of Andalusian and Romani music and dance styles.
There are many assertions as to the use of the name flamenco as a musical term --- but no solid evidence for any of them.
The word was not recorded as a musical and dance term until the late 18th century.
The word flamenco is the Spanish name for the Greater Flamingo, a bird native to southern Spain.
The Flamenco dance style derives much from Romani dances that have elements that can be traced all the way back to northern India, from where the Romani originated, and can still be seen there in the present day Kathak dance.
It has been suggested that the term flamenco may have originally been a Spanish colloquialism for the dance's resemblance to the movements of the flamingo.
The entry for "Flamenco" in the 1786 Diccionario español e ingles (Volume 1), gives the following definition :
"f.m. a bird that has a red breast and pinions". "Flama" in Spanish means flame or fire, and "enco" or "endo", is a suffix which means a quality-of, or having a-similarity-to, or pertaining-to.
Blas Infante, in his book Orígenes de lo flamenco y secreto del cante jondo, suggested that the word may derive from Andalusian Arabic fellah mengu, "Escapee Peasant", referring to the formerly Muslim Andalusians (Moriscos), who stayed in Spain and, according to certain modern authors, are supposed to have mixed with the Romani newcomers.
From flamenco's beginning in eighteenth century popular theatre most performers were professional. Originally they learned from other performers in the manner of an apprenticeship, not in conservatories or dance schools. This lack of formal training led to interesting harmonic findings, with unusual unresolved dissonances.
Examples of these are the use of minor 9th tonic chords or the use of the open 1st string as a kind of pedal tone. Today most guitarists undergo rigorous professional training and often can read and play music in other styles: many dancers take courses in ballet and contemporary dance as well as flamenco.
Flamenco occurs in four settings - in the juerga, in small-scale cabaret, in concert venues and in the theatre.
The entry for "Flamenco" in the 1786 Diccionario español e ingles (Volume 1), gives the following definition :
"f.m. a bird that has a red breast and pinions". "Flama" in Spanish means flame or fire, and "enco" or "endo", is a suffix which means a quality-of, or having a-similarity-to, or pertaining-to.
Blas Infante, in his book Orígenes de lo flamenco y secreto del cante jondo, suggested that the word may derive from Andalusian Arabic fellah mengu, "Escapee Peasant", referring to the formerly Muslim Andalusians (Moriscos), who stayed in Spain and, according to certain modern authors, are supposed to have mixed with the Romani newcomers.
From flamenco's beginning in eighteenth century popular theatre most performers were professional. Originally they learned from other performers in the manner of an apprenticeship, not in conservatories or dance schools. This lack of formal training led to interesting harmonic findings, with unusual unresolved dissonances.
Examples of these are the use of minor 9th tonic chords or the use of the open 1st string as a kind of pedal tone. Today most guitarists undergo rigorous professional training and often can read and play music in other styles: many dancers take courses in ballet and contemporary dance as well as flamenco.
Flamenco occurs in four settings - in the juerga, in small-scale cabaret, in concert venues and in the theatre.
The juerga is an informal, spontaneous gathering, rather like a jazz "jam session", that can include dancing, singing, palmas (hand clapping), or simply pounding in rhythm on an orange crate or table, adapting to local talent, instrumentation and mood.
The cantaores (singers) are the heart and soul of the performance. A meeting place or grouping of Flamenco musicians or artists is called a peña flamenca.
There are also tablaos, establishments that developed during the 1960s throughout Spain, replacing the café cantante, that may have their own company of performers for each show.
Many internationally renowned artists, like the singer Miguel Poveda, started their careers in tablaos flamencos.
Originally, all guitars were made with wooden tuning pegs, that pass straight through the head stock, similar to those found on a lute, a violin or oud, as opposed to the modern classical-style guitars' geared tuning mechanisms. Traditional pegs remain popular among flamenco guitarist and guitar makers.
The action, or the height of the strings above the fingerboard, is generally lower than a classical guitar's, typically less than 3 mm at the twelfth fret. This lower string height can facilitate playing speed, and greatly reduces fatigue of the left hand during lengthy performances.
"Flamenco negra" guitars are called "negra" after the darker of the harder woods used in their construction, similar materials to those of high-end classical guitars, such as rosewood or other dense tone woods. The harder materials increase volume and tonal range.
Originally, all guitars were made with wooden tuning pegs, that pass straight through the head stock, similar to those found on a lute, a violin or oud, as opposed to the modern classical-style guitars' geared tuning mechanisms. Traditional pegs remain popular among flamenco guitarist and guitar makers.
The action, or the height of the strings above the fingerboard, is generally lower than a classical guitar's, typically less than 3 mm at the twelfth fret. This lower string height can facilitate playing speed, and greatly reduces fatigue of the left hand during lengthy performances.
"Flamenco negra" guitars are called "negra" after the darker of the harder woods used in their construction, similar materials to those of high-end classical guitars, such as rosewood or other dense tone woods. The harder materials increase volume and tonal range.
A typical cypress flamenco guitar produces more treble and louder percussion than the more sonorous negra. These guitars strive to capture some of the sustain achieved by concert caliber classical guitars while retaining the volume and attack associated with flamenco.
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