Spain is musically as well as culturally a diverse country. Different cultures have left their mark on different parts and also on the same parts of the country, which resulted in a mix and variety of music styles in the whole of Spain.
This website presents an overview of the traditional music of Spain, placed within the broader context of the culture (and history) of Spain.
The overview is per (autonomous) region (and part) of Spain.
In the following order the regions (and parts) of Spain will be described especially concerning
traditional music, placed - as said - in the broader context of the culture (and history) of these regions.
Also some other aspects will be mentioned.
At the end you will find a glossary of terms related to Spanish traditional music.
The regions (in this order):
This website presents an overview of the traditional music of Spain, placed within the broader context of the culture (and history) of Spain.
The overview is per (autonomous) region (and part) of Spain.
In the following order the regions (and parts) of Spain will be described especially concerning
traditional music, placed - as said - in the broader context of the culture (and history) of these regions.
Also some other aspects will be mentioned.
At the end you will find a glossary of terms related to Spanish traditional music.
The regions (in this order):
# Aragón:(Northeast/Eastern Spain)
# (Southern) Navarra and La Rioja: (North Spain/Northern Central Spain)
# (Southern) Navarra and La Rioja: (North Spain/Northern Central Spain)
# Castilla y Leon (Castile and Leon): (northern Central Spain)
# the region of Madrid: (Central Spain)
# the region of Madrid: (Central Spain)
ARAGÓN (northeast/Eastern Spain)
In this mainly agraric region, the people are for a great part of Iberian (the Iberians originally came from North-Africa) and mixed Iberian and Celtic (Celtiberian) descent, but there were also other influences in the course of history, still notable today, such as North-African Islamic (Moorish) influences and some French influences in the north.
The roots of the Jota-music style, which today has spread over the whole of Spain, lie in this region, especially in the southern half of Aragón. Aragón is the birthplace of the Jota.The 'Jota' is a relatively uptempo style of music and is relatively rhythmic. It is characterized by repeating musical (especially rhythmic) patterns and also changes in tonallity. It is often accompanied by typical dances. The instruments used to play the Jota are the Spanish castanets, (often) flutes, tambourines and other instruments and there is also human singing. In different parts of Spain different instruments are used. The Aragonese Jota is of a relatively high tempo. There is no certainty about the origins of the Jota. Some say the Jota is of Moorish origin, some date the origin of the Jota back to the music styles and musical structures of the Iberians and Celtiberians.
In Aragón drums and drumming have a quite dominating place in the traditional music: in the folkloric as well as in the ceremonial music. There isn't any certainty about the origin of the dominance of drums and drumming in the music. It's possibly a inheritance of the Iberians who were of North-African origin and related to the nowadays called Berbers, Tuaregs and other Hamitic peoples: people with a culture and music wherein drums and drumming also play an important role.
Other musical instruments in Aragon include rattles and a type of guitar, known as the 'guitarro'. This type of guitar is also used in other parts of Spain, such as La Mancha, Murcia and Andalusia.
The roots of the Jota-music style, which today has spread over the whole of Spain, lie in this region, especially in the southern half of Aragón. Aragón is the birthplace of the Jota.The 'Jota' is a relatively uptempo style of music and is relatively rhythmic. It is characterized by repeating musical (especially rhythmic) patterns and also changes in tonallity. It is often accompanied by typical dances. The instruments used to play the Jota are the Spanish castanets, (often) flutes, tambourines and other instruments and there is also human singing. In different parts of Spain different instruments are used. The Aragonese Jota is of a relatively high tempo. There is no certainty about the origins of the Jota. Some say the Jota is of Moorish origin, some date the origin of the Jota back to the music styles and musical structures of the Iberians and Celtiberians.
In Aragón drums and drumming have a quite dominating place in the traditional music: in the folkloric as well as in the ceremonial music. There isn't any certainty about the origin of the dominance of drums and drumming in the music. It's possibly a inheritance of the Iberians who were of North-African origin and related to the nowadays called Berbers, Tuaregs and other Hamitic peoples: people with a culture and music wherein drums and drumming also play an important role.
Other musical instruments in Aragon include rattles and a type of guitar, known as the 'guitarro'. This type of guitar is also used in other parts of Spain, such as La Mancha, Murcia and Andalusia.
Aragonese 'guitarro'
(Southern)NAVARRA and LA RIOJA (North/Central/North Spain)
These relatively small regions lie west of Aragon and south of the Basque region. The north of the region Navarra, that lies against the Pyrenees, belongs for a great part to the Basque cultural region. The southern part of Navarra, comprising the valley of the river Ebro, has more similarities with Aragón and La Rioja and has only small Basque influences.
In Southern-Navarra the Jota plays also an important role in the traditional music. In Navarra it has the same relatively high tempo as in neighbouring Aragón. In La Rioja the Jota also plays an important role in the traditional music. Culturally and musically the La Rioja-region has many similarities with neighbouring southern Navarra and Aragón.
CASTILLA Y LEON/CASTILA AND LEON (Northern Central Spain)
This large interior region made up of a relatively dry highplain (highland) interchanged and surrounded by mountain ranges, comprises the northern half of Castilla and the region Leon in the west (bordering to Portugal and Galicia). The people are for a great part of Celtiberian (mixed Iberian and Celtic) descent, but in this inland region there were many other influences in the course of history: Jewish, Roman, Visigothic, Gipsy and Moorish (North African Islamic).
Here the Jota - originally from Aragon - plays also an important role in the traditional music of the region. The Jota of the region has a relatively slow tempo: slower then the Jota of Aragon. In every Castilian (and Leonese) province there are small diferences between the Jota played there and per province there are also different musical instruments used for it. For this whole region one can say however that the Jota has a relatively slow tempo.
In northwestern parts of this region, more specifically northern parts of the provinces Leon and Palencia there are some similarities with the music and culture of Galicia and Asturias, such as the use of the Gaita (bagpipe). In another part of the province of Leon, the region around Astorga, there are still some remainders of the culture of the Maragatos-people who once lived in this region and whose origin is not exactly known. It is assumed that they are of mixed Hamitic (Berber/Iberian) and Gothic descent, due to their physical traits.
The city Salamanca in the southwest of the region, a university-city with a long student-tradition, is the city of the 'Tuna': a type of serenade, performed for loved ones, wherefore the performers (often students) dress in medieval clothes and play music with mostly a mellow character and played with guitars and some tambourines.Other used musical instruments in Castilla y Leon are percussion instruments.
In Southern-Navarra the Jota plays also an important role in the traditional music. In Navarra it has the same relatively high tempo as in neighbouring Aragón. In La Rioja the Jota also plays an important role in the traditional music. Culturally and musically the La Rioja-region has many similarities with neighbouring southern Navarra and Aragón.
CASTILLA Y LEON/CASTILA AND LEON (Northern Central Spain)
This large interior region made up of a relatively dry highplain (highland) interchanged and surrounded by mountain ranges, comprises the northern half of Castilla and the region Leon in the west (bordering to Portugal and Galicia). The people are for a great part of Celtiberian (mixed Iberian and Celtic) descent, but in this inland region there were many other influences in the course of history: Jewish, Roman, Visigothic, Gipsy and Moorish (North African Islamic).
Here the Jota - originally from Aragon - plays also an important role in the traditional music of the region. The Jota of the region has a relatively slow tempo: slower then the Jota of Aragon. In every Castilian (and Leonese) province there are small diferences between the Jota played there and per province there are also different musical instruments used for it. For this whole region one can say however that the Jota has a relatively slow tempo.
In northwestern parts of this region, more specifically northern parts of the provinces Leon and Palencia there are some similarities with the music and culture of Galicia and Asturias, such as the use of the Gaita (bagpipe). In another part of the province of Leon, the region around Astorga, there are still some remainders of the culture of the Maragatos-people who once lived in this region and whose origin is not exactly known. It is assumed that they are of mixed Hamitic (Berber/Iberian) and Gothic descent, due to their physical traits.
The city Salamanca in the southwest of the region, a university-city with a long student-tradition, is the city of the 'Tuna': a type of serenade, performed for loved ones, wherefore the performers (often students) dress in medieval clothes and play music with mostly a mellow character and played with guitars and some tambourines.Other used musical instruments in Castilla y Leon are percussion instruments.
THE REGION OF MADRID
The region with the capital of Spain Madrid lies in Central-Spain. Madrid, the capital of Spain, has, since it is the capital of Spain, attracted in the course of history, many people from other parts of Spain, especially poorer parts. There are therefore influences from all parts of Spain in Madrid and the culture and music of different regions and parts of Spain are kept alive in cultural and musical centres.
The 'chotis' is a type of music in the city.
The 'castizos' (original Madrilens) and other people in the region have a culture and music related to the culture and music of surrounding Castilla (Castile).
The region with the capital of Spain Madrid lies in Central-Spain. Madrid, the capital of Spain, has, since it is the capital of Spain, attracted in the course of history, many people from other parts of Spain, especially poorer parts. There are therefore influences from all parts of Spain in Madrid and the culture and music of different regions and parts of Spain are kept alive in cultural and musical centres.
The 'chotis' is a type of music in the city.
The 'castizos' (original Madrilens) and other people in the region have a culture and music related to the culture and music of surrounding Castilla (Castile).
0 comments:
Post a Comment