Flamenco Instruments



Posted: Saturday, August 01, 2009

by Kristin Royce

Flamenco, a genre due to the Andalusian region of Spain, emerged as the result of interaction between Arabic, Andalusian, Sephardic and Gypsy peoples in the nineteenth century. Flamenco refers to both a musical and dancing genre, where guitar players perform complicated songs while dancers use their shoes to add to the rhythm of the music.

Flamenco emerged from a complicated cross section of musical and cultural norms in the area. The dance was originally performed only by the gypsies in their communities, but musical members of the surrounding areas eventually joined in, adding their own flavor.

In the eighteenth century, flamenco music was altered by the changing of instruments. Though flamenco was originally played on a classical five string guitar, flamenco enthusiasts adopted the six string guitar, which is now one of the most characteristic aspects of the genre. The added string allowed further diversification among players and styles. Traditional flamenco guitars are built smaller than their traditional counterparts, and many are made from Spanish spruce of cypress. This provides for a sharper sound while playing.

About a century after the addition of the sixth string to the guitar, flamenco music reached what is known as "the golden age." Cafes cantantes became popular between 1870 and 1910, allowing flamenco artists to hold ticketed concerts. This also paved the way for the popularization of flamenco dancing who performed at these concerts.

Flamenco musicians from this era, like El Loco Mateo and Silverio Franconetti, became popular and their music is still played today.

The Etapa Teatreal, or the Theatrical Period, followed the Golden Age of Flamenco. Flamenco music become commercial and was considered decadent. Flamenco music was broadcasted to the people through large venues, but traditional players believed this damaged the players' integrity.

The flamenco is an incredibly emotional dance. There are few choreographed dances, as the performers are meant to feel the rhythm, in a manner similar to jazz. Dancers add to the rhythm created by the musicians by using their feet as instruments. Flamenco musicians also improvise while playing, rather than pay attention to the beat of the rhythm.

In today's version of the flamenco, artists are heavily influenced by other cultures. Many flamenco songs are derived from Arabic music from Yemen. Modern forms of the flamenco borrow greatly from Latin American and Cuban musical forms. This is called the rumba, and cajons are often played during performances of the genre. A cajon is a percussive instrument used to mark the beat. This hand drum acts as a stool for the player, who sits on top while slapping the frontplate of the cajon. The drum is equipped with guitar strings or snare strings that rest against the frontplate, giving the acoustic drum a range of sounds. The cajon is often used to define the compas, or the rhythm of the music and the division of the musical accentuations.

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