History Tells Us

Opinion about Flamenco?

I have to write a paper about what Americans think about Flamenco compared to what Spanish people and native Andalucían people think about it. I know there is a lot of history and different types of flamenco but I’m just looking for basic opinions, stereotypes, etc. (yes, I already know that it’s a stereotype of all of Spain and that everyone can dance and sing flamenco).

Most Americans don’t understand what flamenco music is. They tend to think that anything with a “Spanish sound” is flamenco. It’s not. Most of the “flamenco” groups popular in America are rumba groups. The “rumba” is only one of the flamenco palos (forms), and not the most important one.

Many actual flamenco palos have a complex rhythmic structure, typically involving a 12-beat “compas” (rhythmic structure). For example, a bulerias has a 12-beat compas with accents on the 3rd, 7th, 8th, 10th, and 12th beats, or sometimes with an emphasis on the 6th beat instead of the 7th. Often a particular chord change is associated with a particular beat.

Obviously, this is difficult to describe in words. But when you listen to flamenco over time, you begin to understand the sructure and chord changes of the different palos.

Common flamenco palos are solea, bulerias, siguiriyas, alegrias, tangos, and solea por bulerias. Some palos do not have a highly-structured compas, such as tarantas and rondena.

In traditional flamenco these forms are associated with particular kinds of songs and themes. In modern times solo flamenco guitar has become popular, but in traditional flamenco it was always used to accompany cante and baile (singing and dancing).

You won’t find one American in a thousand who will understand these distinctions. Ottmar Liebert? Gipsy Kings? “Esteban” — the guy with the black hat selling guitars on TV? Forget about them! The Gipsy Kings are a great rumba group, but it’s not flamenco in any significant sense. Be skeptical about flamenco “fusion.” (Not to say that it’s not good music, but often it’s not really flamenco.)

For modern flamenco guitar music check out Vicente Amigo, Paco de Lucia, Moraito, Tomatito, Chicuelo, Juan Carmona, Pepe Habichuela, Rafael Riqueni, Gerardo Nunez, and Manolo Sanlucar. For cante (singing) check out Agujetas and Duquende. You can find clips of them on YouTube. For flamenco CDs go to www.flamencoconnection.com (I have no relationship to them except as a customer.)

My experience? Amateur flamenco guitarist, and student of flamenco for ten years.

Best wishes.