| Brief Introduction: | | | | provided by the heels and balls of the feet, |
| Flamenco is one of the most popular and | | | | castanets are held in the hands and clicked together |
| characteristic features in Spanish culture. The word | | | | with the music rhythm. |
| Flamenco is a tripartite art, involving singing; the song | | | | Clothes and shoes: |
| is called as Cante, dancing named as Baile and | | | | It is suggested to wear a top in order to avoid the |
| Guitarra the use of guitar, all being used | | | | restricted movements. Moreover, the trousers should |
| simultaneously. | | | | not be too long as a tap or sound on the floor needs |
| There are many different types of pieces within | | | | to be clear. A solid soled shoe is a better choice |
| flemanco, all having their generic names like, | | | | which will produce some sound while walking on it. It |
| seguiriyas, soleares, alegras, malaguenas, fandangos, | | | | is advised to have character shoes for performing |
| zapateado, rondena and many more.Each one of | | | | Flamenco dance. |
| them has a mood and rhythm. Flamenco dancing is | | | | Musical characteristics: |
| characterized by colorful costumes, intense | | | | Harmony: |
| movements, stamping of the feet (zapateado), and | | | | Flamenco music has been derived mainly from Arabic |
| clapping of the hands (palmada). | | | | Adani music with the preservation of the Phrygian or |
| History: | | | | Greek Dorian mode. In ancient Greek music, the |
| The origin of Flamenco is thought to be the mixture | | | | Flamenco melodies are found to be descending than |
| of at least four cultures as; Gypsies, Moors or Arabs, | | | | the ascending patterns as found in the Western |
| Jews, and the Andalusians. It has been considered to | | | | music. |
| be originated particularly from one of the Spain's | | | | The Phrygian mode is the most popular and common |
| province--- the Andalusia. | | | | in Flamenco music. It is used for solea, bulerias, |
| Between 1765 and 1860, the first Flamenco schools | | | | siguiriyas, tangos and tientos. The Flamenco version |
| were created by Cadiz, where the dance started to | | | | of this mode contains two frequent alterations in the |
| have a firm position in ball room dances. Early | | | | 7th and even the 3rd degree of the scale. |
| Flamenco is thought to be purely vocal, with the | | | | Melody: |
| clapping of hands, toque de palms. | | | | The Flamenco singing has many characteristic |
| Then during 1869-1910, the definitive form of | | | | features like; |
| Flamenco was developed in the café's | | | | · The presence of intervals smaller than the |
| (café cantantes). From 1910-1955, Flamenco | | | | semitone, |
| singing came in the form of "opera Flamenca." From | | | | · Change from one note to the other is done |
| then, the Flamenco was developed all over the world. | | | | in a smooth transition, |
| Flamenco music: | | | | · Most of the Flamenco songs are limited to |
| Flamenco music is believed to be originated in the | | | | a range of sixth, |
| early 19th century from canto hondo(deep song) of | | | | · Use of enharmonic scale, |
| Andalusia, accompanied by a guitar.Flamenco music is | | | | · Baroque ornamentation, |
| characterized by a particular body of song, dance and | | | | · Greek Dorian mode, |
| guitar music. The Flamenco song is based on a | | | | · Most styles express sad and bitter feelings, |
| particular group of modes with Phrygian | | | | · Melodic improvisation. |
| characteristics. | | | | Compas: |
| The accompaniment is usually played on a guitar | | | | It is a Spanish word for meter and time signature in |
| taking three styles; rasgueado (strumming), paseo | | | | music. But in Flamenco, besides these meanings it also |
| (lively melodious passage work) and falsetas | | | | refers to a rhythmic cycle of Flamenco style. |
| (improvised interludes). | | | | Flamenco uses three basic counts or measures; |
| Forms of Flamenco Expression: | | | | Binary, Ternary, and the twelve beat cycle which is a |
| Flamenco is expressed through the toque, the playing | | | | unique feature of Flamenco. |
| of Flamenco guitar, the cante (singing), and the baile | | | | · Rhythms in 2/4 or 4/4. These meters are |
| (dancing). | | | | used in forms like tangos, tientos, gypsy rumba and |
| · Toque: | | | | zambra. |
| The first Flamenco guitars are believed to be | | | | · Rhythms in 3/4. These are typical of |
| originated in Spain around 15th century. The traditional | | | | fandangos and sevillanas, both of which originate |
| Flamenco guitar is made up of Spanish cypress and | | | | from Spanish folk. |
| spruce. It is lighter and smaller in size than a classical | | | | · 12-beat rhythms usually usually rendered in |
| guitar. It gives a more sharp sound. | | | | amalgams of 6/8+3/4 and sometimes measure of12 |
| · Cante: | | | | 8. 12 beat amalgams are the most common in |
| Cante is often called as the heart of Flamenco. The | | | | Flamenco. There are three types of these varying in |
| verses of these songs are really beautiful. Flamenco | | | | use of accentuations. |
| song can be categorized in number of ways as, | | | | 1. The solea. |
| Solea, Siguiriya, Tango and Fandango. | | | | 2. The seguiriya. |
| · Baile: | | | | 3. The buleria. |
| EI Baile is a highly expressive form of Flamenco solo | | | | The compas is fundamental to Flamenco, without |
| dance, which involves sweeping of the arms and | | | | which there is no Flamenco. |
| stomping of the feet. In addition to the percussion | | | | |