Lifestyle, music, movement, art-fusion, culture, ...
Flamenco is all that. And much more. It is a kind of music, a genre, but also, it is a way of living, of seeing the world in a special context. People all over the world have been capturized by its strong attraction and only few persons would stay indifferent seeing a great dancer perform.
Flamenco is one of the great European non-academic musical genres. More than simply a type of folk music, flamenco embodies a complex musical and cultural tradition. Although considered part of the culture of Spain in general, flamenco actually originates from one region —Andalusia. However, other areas, mainly Extremadura and Murcia, have contributed to the development of several flamenco musical forms, and a great number of outstanding flamenco artists have been born in other territories of the state. There are many questions remaining about the roots of flamenco, but it is generally acknowledged that flamenco grew out of the unique interplay of native Andalusian, Islamic, Sephardic, and Gypsy cultures that existed in Andalusia prior to and after the Reconquest. Latin American and especially Cuban influences have also been important to shape several flamenco musical forms.
Once the seeds of flamenco were planted in Andalusia, it grew as a separate subculture, first centered in the provinces of Seville, Cádiz and part of Málaga —the area known as Baja Andalucía (Lower Andalusia) — but soon spreading to the rest of Andalusia, incorporating and transforming local folk music forms. As the popularity of flamenco extended to other areas, other local Spanish musical traditions (i.e. the Castilian traditional music) would also influence, and be influenced by, the traditional flamenco styles.
Cited from:
"Flamenco." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 5 Apr 2007, 15:10 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 10 Apr 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flamenco&oldid=120495923>.
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