Cultura 1- El Flamenco

El Flamenco

1. What is El Flamenco?

El Flamenco is a folk art from Spain. It is a combination of song and dance used to express feelings of oppression.

2. Where does El Flamenco come from? Which country? Which province in that country?

El Flamenco is from Spain. It comes from the southernmost province: Andalucía.

Video 1

Video 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGd-2R0Ykko

Andalucía, Spain

3. Label the country shown below. Label and color in the province from which Flamenco originated.

El Flamenco

4. Which two groups of people were mainly responsible for developing El Flamenco?

The Arabs and the Gypsies both had major roles in the development of El Flamenco, though there were other groups involved, as well.

5. What was the main reason that they came together to create this art form?

The Arabs and the Gypsies came together to support each other during a difficult time in Spain. Both groups were being subjugated by the King and Queen of Spain.

El Flamenco

6. Which three artistic elements are included in the Flamenco?

Singing (cante), dancing (baile), and guitar (guitarra) are all artistic elements included in El Flamenco.

7. According to experts, what is the “center” of Flamenco?

Experts agree that the “center” (or the most important part) of Flamenco is the singing.

El Flamenco

8. How can we classify Flamenco?

Flamenco songs can be classified into three groups: 1. Cante grande (serious and

sad songs) 2. Cante chico (light and fun

songs) 3. Cante intermedio (songs

that don’t fit into those categories)

Cante chico y Cante grande

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqxJMCQxb_Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzjrbXhXNXs

El Flamenco

9. What is “palmas?”

“Palmas” is a type of hand clapping used to help keep the beat during a song.

10. What feelings were the first Flamenco performers expressing? Why do you think they did this through song and dance?

The first Flamenco performers were expressing sadness and anguish. They expressed themselves through song because many of them could not read. They told their stories by singing and dancing.

El Flamenco

11. What music is the style of Flamenco’s guitar and singing based on? The dance?

The Spanish guitar and singing styles are based on Arabic music. The dance style is taken from the Gypsies.

Arabic Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ-ujh8CJE4

Arab World

12. The author uses the term “Arab World.” What does that mean? List some examples.

The “Arab World” is the term used to describe the countries in which people speak Arabic. Ex. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Sudan and more.

Cultural Diffusion

13. What is cultural diffusion?

Cultural diffusion is the exchange of ideas, languages and technologies between different cultures.

14. How did cultural diffusion help to create El Flamenco?

The Arabs and Gypsies came together to create Flamenco. Without cultural diffusion, it would not exist today.

Flamenco

15. Why were the Gypsies called “flamencos?”

The word Flamenco might be a translation of Arabic words that mean “fugitive peasant,” a name that was often used to describe the Gypsy people.