Flamenco is the product of a living
tradition of great antiquity with its roots in Andalucia, a region in Southern
Spain. Most theories trace its origins to the 15th century, when groups
of Jews, Gypsies and Moors banded together to escape the Inquisition. Their
isolation from society created a unique artistic development reflecting
these three cultures. Over the years Flamenco has evolved into a highly
organized and tightly structured art form which uses the elements of song,
dance, and guitar playing. Flamenco pieces, with such generic names as:
Soleares, Bulerias, Alegrias, Fandangos, Tangos, are all defined by a characteristic
melodic and rhythmic structure.
Flamenco is a genuine folk art, an
art of the people. It deals with the deepest emotions that lie at the roots
of human experience. It is also a form of high art, governed by musical
forms of extraordinary complexity and sophistication. Because of the richness
of its content, this music has been the source of inspiration for composers
including: Rimsky-Korsakov, Debussy, Bizet, Ravel, and de Falla.
