| The origins of Flamenco can be traced back
for centuries to the Gypsies of southern Spain. Historically it has
been the artistic outlet for the poor and the oppressed. This art
form has been handed down by the oral tradition with each artist adding
his or her personal interpretation.
Flamenco consists of three elements;
the singing (cante), the dance (baile) and the guitar. In addition,
there are often members of a Flamenco group playing "palmas" or hand clapping.
Much like jazz, the various members of a Flamenco troupe improvise
within a number of set structures. The singer is the center of the
group with the dancers physically interpreting the words and emotion of
the singer through intricate hand, arm & body movement as well
as percussive foot work. The guitarist accompanies the singer &
dancer, accentuating the vocal lines.
Flamenco as a performance art began to flourish
in the later half of the nineteenth century with the appearance of the
"cafe cantante" in Andalusia Spain. The wandering nature of the Flamenco
groups ensured the spread of this art form which has endured many cycles
of popularity and decline until it's most recent resurgence.
As Flamenco evolved and the guitar began to take
a more prominent role, it's players developed more varied techniques
and demanded more from their instruments. It is generally acknowledged
that the father of classical guitar building, Antonio de Torres,
was also responsible for establishing the benchmark for the modern Flamenco
guitar. |
