iSound

FLAMENCO CARAVAN
RODRIGO AND REMEDIOS FLORES

THE ART OF FLAMENCO:
Flamenco is the music of Andalucia, the region of Southern Spain encompassing Cadiz, Sevilla, Malaga, Granada, Huelva, Cordoba, Murcia, Jaen and Almeria. Like the music, song, heel-stamping, and handclapping that drive it, flamenco’s roots are exotic and mysterious. Shaped by the history of the Iberian Peninsula, flamenco has many influences, the strongest of which lie in Middle Eastern music. The music uses Arab tonal scales (without quarter tones) absorbed during the seven centuries Moorish rule and the guitar work often bares the influence of the oud, the ancient Arab stringed instrument. And while flamenco singing borrows from Jewish, Gregorian and Eastern European styles, the mid-east flavor is also clearly evident. As for the dancing, the unique heelwork, finger snapping (pitos) and handclapping come from far-flung sources, particularly Gypsy and Indian.

Although it is a folk music, fl...