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Last year I started a deep dive into Spanish folk music, searching for music to play on our bowed-string instruments. I have to admit that music of Carlos Núñez, the Romantic violinist & composer, Sarasate - and also the Jordi Savall videos I ran across (a few years back) with his work on Early Music & early bowed-string instruments, ALL helped spark my interest.
Up to this time, I had only become familiar with the Celtic roots of Galicia and Flamenco music. It became an amazing rabbit hole, starting with the Roman Empire (and a little before)! I felt I didn't finish my exploration, so I didn't know how to start a converstion about this music. Recently, I've been reminded about some amazing musicians/folk artists of Spain, so I'll begin with a little background.
When I started looking into individual areas of Spain, for local tradtional folk music, I was struck by pockets of well-preserved medieval environments with fortresses & ancient architecture, especially in central & southern Spain - all with early music influence from other major European Countries and Countries surrounding the Mediterranean.
If you take a moment to check out features of the List of World Heritage Sites in Spain - it's pretty amazing!
The History of Spanish Music: All You Have To Know
"Along with the impact of the Celtiberian tribes that first settled the area, traces of Gypsy, Portuguese, Roman, Jewish, and Moorish cultures can all be found in Spain's music."
A handmade precursor to the violin, possibly evolved from the Rebec, the 3-string bowed RABEL (also arrabel, arrabelillo) popular from the 10th Century, then later just in certain areas... but it must still be popular enough!
Okay, enough Rabel!
Eugenio Monesma - Documentales is a YT Channel with a HUGE collection of Old World Artisan Documentaries from Spain. Instrumentos Musicales - 23 video playlist (if you're interested in making trad instruments).
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I think geography, religion, and the administrative divisions/regions within a Country - all foster differences in trad music. All sorts of Cultural exchange happens when people have reason to gather for either festivities, or trade. Spain has 'Autonomous Communities'. For all of it's rich history, Spain is only about the size of Texas!
We've seen how music developed differently
in our Appalachian Mountains vs. other areas...
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So, a lot of trad Spanish music I found does feel rooted in what I think of as Medieval, Renaissance & Baroque - and I believe Spain is a GREAT center of 'Early Music' and it's instruments.
Trad Spanish music is deeply rooted in song & dance forms, like most trad music.
This video is great for showing bow distribution with the rhythm & a wonderful place to START playing some trad Spanish music!
El Vito is a traditional folk song and dance music of Andalusia whose origins can be traced back to the 16th century. Its name refers to Saint Vitus, patron of dancers. It was created in the nineteenth century as a dancing song typical of the bolero. It includes steps in the art of bullfighting and is usually played by women. The typical costume includes jacket and brimmed hat.
The melody of El vito is played fast in a 3/8 time signature, and it uses the harmonic minor scale for the ascending motives, and the phrygian mode, which is the most characteristic of Andalusian music, for the descending mode, which generates an harmonic accompaniment based on the Andalusian cadence. It is also sung with different lyrics, humorous or serious. (Wikipedia)
I have been experimenting with varying the articulation, dynamics and bow strokes - VERY inspired by Paco Montalvo's playing of "El Vito Cordobés"!
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Flamenco rhythms captivate me, and there are some interesting theories about it's origins. Started getting a little deeper into a few of the rhythms in other threads (see links below), but I'd like to work on them more.
Here's a quick bit about the origins of Flamenco.
Something else to consider - Spain had a large holding in North & Central America up until the Nineteenth Century, and about 300 years in Argentina... musical influence!
The Spanish Music's Legacy in Latin America - great article!
Related threads:
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...more El Vito (Andalusia).
"El Vito" - EASY VIOLA Play-along Sheet Music!
"El Vito", composed by Fernando Obradors - violin played by Enrique Reynosa.
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The Moors have a long history in Spain - music influence still prevalent in Spain, more so in Andalusia.
Muwashshah - a poetic & musical genre that has a unique interplay of Hebrew & Arabic linguistics, from Al-Andalus (the areas of Spain, Portugal & parts of France - once controlled by the Moors).
“Lamma Bada Yatathanna” (When She Begins To Sway) - 10/8 rhythm!
“Lamma Bada Yatathanna” is a song with a hauntingly beautiful melody. This song is from the era of Moorish Spain, also called the Andalusian era (c. 711-1492). Yes, this song is somewhere between 500-1000 years old and rather than being a piece of obscure history, it is still part of our dance repertoire. It is from the “muwashshat”, or secular music of Al-Andalus. The original composer and lyricist are lost to time. (bellydancequickies)
“Lamma Bada Yatathanna”, performanc by Neteru Ensemble.
“Lamma Bada Yatathanna” - EASY VIOLIN play-along sheet music.
It has only 2 strings, but THIS LOOKS MORE LIKE A RABEL - so yes, good inspiration for on the fiddle!
Ancient sounds of a traditional andalusian Rebab. This ancestor of the modern violin was invented in Al-Andaluz and still has an important role in the traditional andalusian orchestras of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.
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...one more Muwashah.
Again, for geographic/Cultural reference - Spain's Andalusia is on the North side of the 'Strait of Gibralter' & Morocco is on the South side.
Ziryab - originally from Baghdad, he travelled to Andalusian - a scholar/musician/composer/poet & teacher that had a HUGE influence on Spanish and North African (Maghreb) music. He improved the Oud & started a music school in Andalusia (Córdoba).
Notice how the Violins are played upright?
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Sephardic Jewish Music has it's roots in Spain & Portugal.
What is Sephardic Music and Where Did it Originate?
I first came across this music listening to Ana Alcaide!
Ana Alcaide's music is inspired by the journey of the Sephardic Jews and her city, which is why is commonly referred to as the 'Toledo Soundtrack'. While pursuing her degree in biology, Ana travelled to Sweden where she discovered the nyckelharpa, a traditional Swedish instrument that dates back to the Middle Ages. She fell in love with the instrument and taught herself how to play it on the streets of Toledo, far from its traditional setting. Ana has played a pioneering role in the introduction and popularization of the nyckelharpa in Spain. Rooted in ancient traditions yet resolutely modern, her compositions deftly blend musical styles from different cultures.
AND, it does say Ana is playing violin at 38:01 (Tishri) - but I think it looks & sounds like a VIOLA!
"DURME DURME" - trad Sephardic Lullaby (English lyrics) played by Aron Frank - beautiful!
Also some great Sephardic music from Seville (Andalusia)! Really LOVE Emilio Villalba's tune, "La Danza de los Ciegos" - starts at 16:58!
Looks like the Nyckelharpa has caught on! We can play this music on our bowed string instruments!
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The PASODOBLE - scores date back to 1780. Popular today in Valencia, especially during parades & festivals, but many were created to honor Bullfighters... so, scattered throughout Spain. Pasodoble as Ballroom Dance and Popular dance, known all over the World.
A hypothesis based on the dance's free figures and rhythm states that its binary rhythm and moderated movement points to an origin in traditional Spanish music and dances of the early 16th century. These dances, developed around 1538, were a gradual combination of Castillian music and dance (seguidillas) with the "garrotín", a fast and repetitive Romani couples dance, adapted into a march form.
Famous musicologist José Subirá considers that the origin of the style was a combination of military marches and light music from Spanish popular theatre, that gradually permeated the "entremeses" of more respectable plays. (Wikipedia)
There is also Pasodoble music played & composed in Mexico & South America - with their own special characteristics.
Check out more info & music notation in the Spainish Pasodoble! Thread.
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