introduction to
flamenco
This introduction is mainly directed to people who are not very familiar
with this art form, but do want to know a little more about it.
Flamenco is, in my opinion (but I am prejudice, see about
me), a very special kind of music. There are a number of things that
make it special:
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It is basically a non-western form of music, but it lives in the west.
-
It is one of the few forms of music where not only music and singing interact
on the level of improvisation, but the dance also does.
-
It is one of the few forms of music where dance is also serves as a musical
instrument (percussion).
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It is one of the few if not the only folk music that evolved to level of
quality and complexity comparable to jazz and classical music.
-
Finally there is the unique character of flamenco: a combination of intensity,
melancholy, pride and joy of life.
Very important is the notion of forms in flamenco: a more or less distinct
set of properties such as rhythm, harmony, tempo and spirit differentiates
these forms.
Embellishments and rhythm
The way in which embellishments are used is probably what makes flamenco
unique in a musical sense, and what links it to the gypsies. Typical of
Gypsy music all over the world are the mostly simplistic harmonies (often
of local music) that are used, combined with the extensive use of embellishments.
Another Gypsy thing is that whenever they play a piece, it's never the
same twice; improvisation plays an major part in this music.
Something else typical of flamenco (and probably also due to the influence
of the gypsies) is the way the rhythm is felt and done. Western music is
often felt from beat to beat, with few (usually two or four) counts and
one beat per measure. Flamenco is felt from measure to measure, with up
to twelve counts and several beats in a measure. In flamenco each measure
is a rhythmical phrase, with a "question-answer" structure, and the more
surprising the answer, the better. Especially in phrases that run over
several measures, the feeling of resolution at the end can be very strong.
In western music this building up and resolving of tension is mostly done
by melody, the rhythm alone is usually not very interesting. In flamenco
it is almost the other way around, while the melodies are linked to the
rhythmical phrase and made interesting with embellishments.
All this makes it very much worth wile, and I personally am amazed
that it is not known more widely, and receives recognition mainly from
a small number of diehard aficionados.
This might sound exaggerated but in my experience most non-aficionados
know it as it used to be in the sixties and seventies, when the likes of
Carmen Amaya, Lola Flores and 'Fiesta Gitana' toured the world, or they
are only familiar with tourist flamenco or groups like "The Gypsy Kings".
The main thing is that flamenco evolved very much in the last few decades,
while it basically retained its folklore quality.
Instruments in flamenco
The three main instruments are (in order of importance) singing, dance
and guitar. Everything started with only singing and dancing (with some
hand clapping, known as "palmas"), the guitar came later. The extensive
use of footwork common today is a development of this century. The most
complete form of flamenco is where these three basic components are used.
There are however a number of songs that are done without dancing, and
even a few dances that (at least traditionally) are done without singing.
Also, any form that can incorporate dance, can also be done without dance.
Finally there are some songs that are done without any accompaniment.
Flamenco solo guitar
Flamenco solo guitar is a special case: it can in itself not be considered
representative of flamenco as a whole, but it is a manifestation of the
continual development of flamenco guitar. Flamenco guitarists have a need
to demonstrate their ability and creativity. The result is instrumental
flamenco, which is very nice, and since dance doesn't come across very
well on an audio-only recording, it is one of the two most common ways
flamenco reaches the public (the other being singing and guitar). In flamenco
solo guitar, singing and dancing can be used as an extra, but always in
service of the guitar (in normal circumstances the guitar serves the singing
and the dancing). Solo flamenco guitar can be very useful when learning
flamenco (for listening as well as playing), just don't forget that it's
actually the singing and dancing that it's all about (even when you don't
understand what they are singing about)
Instruments in modern flamenco
In modern flamenco some more instruments are used: fairly common is bass
guitar and "caja" or "cajon", basically a box with a lose front panel,
that is played while sitting on it. A variety of percussive sounds can
be produced with this instrument.
In addition, sax, flute and other percussion instruments can be used.
Occasionally you can hear strings (a complete orchestra sometimes) or even
something exotic like a sitar (Middle East string instrument). Extremes
in this respect are metal-string- and electric guitar, synthesizer and
drums.
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