Flamenco Guitar Music And It's Origins

Moreover, the transmission of rich cultural influences and musical ideas assures that music will not be "localized." Tethered and rooted to one region. One cultural heritage One Historical identity.If this were to be the case, music would not be exposed to a wider audience. Just the region of it's creation. St. Francis' words "Life is a book. If we don't travel, we only see one page" apply equally to Music.

This is particularly true for the Spanish Flamenco Guitar and it's music.To fully grasp the evolution of this instrument, we must travel back in time to Cordoba, Spain. The prime date is 711. Just after the Islamic invasion. Accordingly, Cordoba had became a focal point for Islamic musicians.

The Spanish Flamenco Guitar had it's beginnings in Cordoba during that period. It originated as the Oud, to which a fifth string was added.The musical hybrid that resulted from this cross-pollination was the "Andalucian Nuba." Also known as the "Moorish Guitar."

The European Lute and the Guitar Latina were the next instruments to contribute their unique elements to the continuing developement of the Flamenco Guitar. Over the course of several centuries, this "musical melting pot" continued, when the Vihuela was born. As a result of combining elements of the Moorish Guitar with the European Lute and the Guitar Latina.

An unusual instrument to say the least, at the height of it's developement, the Vihuela had six double strings. The tuning of this instrument was closely paired to that of the guitar as we know it today with the exception of the third string, which was tuned a semitone lower.Cypress, spruce and cedar were the preferred woods used to construct the various elements of the Vihuela.

Following on from the contributions of the Viheula, before the final "birth" of the Flamenco Guitar, there were still three developmental stages necessary. The first descendant of the Vihuela was the Baroque Guitar.It became the precursor to the Classical Guitar. From which the Flamenco Guitar evolved.

Flamenco Guitar Music has an equally rich and captivating History. Although it's rarely accurate to place a definite date or time on the "birth" of movement or genre, there are always people and or events of obvious importance.

Three of those people,each of whom created a legacy on which those to follow would build upon, were Ramon Montoya, Sabicas, and Nino Ricardo. Montoya, the son of gypsy cattle traders, was the first to perform solo on the Flamenco guitar. Thus elevating it from it's background role accompanying singers and dancers in cafes - to the concert stage.

"Sabicas" - noted for his amazing technique and flawless sense of rhythm, further refined and evolved Montoya's accomplishments. History also remembers Sabicas as the first guitarist of his genre to introduce genuine Flamenco Music Internationally.

The most sober note in that period's History was sounded with the premature death from liver failure of Nino Ricardo. "Little" Ricardo, hailed as the foremost guitarist of his day, began his career composing and playing in the bars of his native Seville. Those long years, in those conditions, quite probably contributed to the illness that was to claim him at age 68. Nino's upwardly curving fingernails produced a truly individual tone that other guitarists, try as they did, were unable to duplicate.

The evolution and innovation of the Flamenco Guitar Music we enjoy today, is a direct legacy from the accomplishments of these three "Flamenco Innovators."