5. FOLKLORE OF SPAIN
1. INTRODUCTION
Etnomusicology studies traditional music from different cultures.
Characteristics of traditional music:
- It's anonymous; it’s the result of collective elaboration.
- It's transmitted orally from generation to generation.
- It's functional; it accompanies works, social events and celebrations.
Musical folklore is the music that identifies and expresses the distinctive characteristics of a certain region or culture. Spain has one of the most diverse and rich musical folklore in the world, due to the different peoples and cultures that have passed through the country (Celtic, Iberian, Roman, Christian, Visigoth, Arab, Sephardic, Gypsy, etc.).
Some Spanish folk music manifestations are limited to certain regions while others are widespread throughout all the country, such as “romance, fandango, bolero, jota, seguidilla”, stick and weapon dances…
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“Romance” or ballad: narrative poem originated in the Middle Ages, whose verses are sung repeating the same music. It tells all kinds of events (epic historic events, legends, fairy tales, etc.). They were compiled in “romanceros” and “cancioneros”.
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“Fandango”: partnered dance in triple time developed in the 18th century. Every Spanish region and even colonies have their local variant and it evolved into a “palo flamenco”. It was included in tonadillas, zarzuelas, ballets, etc. and it was used by classical composers such as Rameau, Mozart or Boccherini.
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“Bolero”: moderately slow dance in 3/4 with a repeating rhythmic pattern. It originated in Spain in the late 18th century, not to be confused with the late 19th century Cuban “bolero”. It's danced by a soloist or a couple accompanied by guitars and castanets. It was used by classical composer Ravel.
Romance del Conde Olinos
Bolero (from Spanish folklore to Ravel)
2. GALICIA, ASTURIAS & CANTABRIA
These regions received influences from Roman and Celtic traditions.
Traditional genres: “pericote, alborada, danza de arcos” (dance with decorated arches).
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“Muiñeira” (miller’s dance): lively dance in 6/8, accompanied by bagpipes, drums, tambourines and “aturuxos” which are shrill cries. It consists of two parts: the “punto”, which has many variations depending on the dancers' skill and the “volta” or wheel performed by dancers changing positions. It was danced by peasants while they waited for their flour in the mills. It originated in Galicia and spread in Asturias and some parts of León.
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“Tonada”: song with melismatic ornamentations, which is usually performed “a cappella”. It is also known as “asturianada” in Asturias and “tonada montañesa” in Cantabria.
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“Los Picayos”: Cantabrian dance performed by men playing castanets dressed in white, accompanied by women singing and playing tambourines.
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Instruments: 1. “gaita” (bagpipe), 2. “zanfona“ (hurdy gurdy), 3. “tamboril” (snare drum), 4. “pandeiro” (square frame drum), 5. “cunchas” (vieira/scallop shells).
3. BASQUE COUNTRY & NAVARRE
These regions received influences from adjacent areas and through pilgrimage on the Way of St James.
Traditional genres: “makil dantza” (stick dance), “ezpata dantza” (sword dance), Navarrese “sagar dantza” (apple dance). There is a strong singing and choral tradition.
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“Aurresku”: ceremonial courtship dance in which men perform acrobatic steps accompanied by “txistu” and “danbolina”. It is a homage or welcome dance to relevant people.
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“Zortziko”: fast dance in 5/8 time, accompanied by “txistu” and “danbolina”.
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Instruments: 1. “txistu” (3-hole pipe), 2. “danbolina” (snare drum), 3. “trikitixa” (diatonic accordion), 4. “alboka” (single reed aerophone), 5. “txalaparta” (idiophone played by two performers).
4. ARAGON & LA RIOJA
These regions received influences from Roman, Celtic and Arab traditions.
Traditional genres: “albada, aurora, gozo, paloteo”.
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“Jota”: Aragonese partnered dance usually in 3/4, that originated in the 18th century and spread all over Spain. Each Spanish region has its local variant and there is even a Philippine Jota. It's danced with their hands raised high above their heads, accompanied by “rondallas” made up of guitars, bandurrias, lutes, tambourines and sometimes the dancers wear castanets. It has a fast instrumental introduction and the chants are slower. Lyrics deal with love, religion or patriotic feelings. Classical composers such as Liszt, Bizet or Glinka used it in their works.
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“Danza de los zancos“ (stilt dancers): Riojan tradition celebrated in Anguiano since the 17th century, accompanied by “dulzainas, tamboriles” and castanets. Eight young villagers dressed in skirts perform a fast spinning routine down the steep, cobbled streets of the town on 50 cm high stilts.
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Instruments: 1. “chicotén” (psaltery), 2. “chiflo” (3-hole pipe), 3. “dulzaina” (shawm), 4. “requinto” or “guitarrico” (small guitar), 5. “bandurria“ (small lute).
5. CATALONIA, VALENCIA & BALEARIC ISLANDS
These regions received influences from Arab and Mediterranean traditions; and also from adjacent areas.
Traditional genres: “havaneres, ball de bastons, de panderetes, de gitanes”. Balearic “glosas, gozos” and “mateixes”.
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“Sardana”: slow circle dance usually in 6/8, danced holding hands. It originated in the Empordá, it became popular in the 19th century and it was banned during Franco's dictatorship for being a symbol of the Catalan nationalism.
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“Moixiganga”: name given to the performance of ancient street dances and human towers called “castellers” in Catalonia, “muixeranga” in Valencia and “dance de tauste” in Aragon.
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“Ball pagès”: ancient Balearic dance in which the man invites the woman to dance, he plays castanets, performs big jumps and throws his legs up in the air. The woman stares at the floor and dances in circles with very short, quick steps.
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Instruments: the most popular instrumental ensembles in these regions are:
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Catalan “cobla“ or Balearic “colla de xeremiers” made up of: 1. “flabiol“ (5-hole pipe), 2. “tamborí“ (small drum), 3. “tenora”, 4. “tible”, 5. “gralla“ (shawm), 6. Catalan “sac de gemecs” or Balearic “xeremía“ (bagpipe).
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Valencian “bandas” (wind bands) and “rondallas” (plucked string ensembles).
6. CASTILE & LEÓN, LA MANCHA, EXTREMADURA & MADRID
This region received influences from adjacent areas such as Galicia, Asturias, Andalusia and Portugal.
Traditional genres: “habas verdes, charrada, paloteo, fandango del candil”, “pindango”, “perantón”.
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“Seguidilla”: lively partnered dance in 3/4, accompanied by a “rondalla” and castanets. It consists of an instrumental introduction and “coplas”. It is danced with animated footwork and the dancers freeze a rigid pose called “bien parao” at the end of each “copla”. Lyrics deal with love, daily life or satire. It spread all over Spain generating local variants and new genres such as “sevillanas” and “seguiriya”. It was included in zarzuelas, operas and ballets.
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“Ronda”: serenade sung in the streets at night by a group of singers and instruments also called “ronda”. Lyrics deal with amorous picaresque and social criticism. Types: “de mozos” (young singles), “de quintos” (young men before going to the military service), “de tunas” (students dressed in medieval clothing), etc.
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“Son”: lively and cheerful partnered dance accompanied by “tamboril” or “pandero”. Types: “sones brincaos”, which are danced with jumps and “sones llanos”, which are danced without jumps.
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“Los danzaores”: old ritual dance performed by 9 men dressed in white with skirts and flower headdresses, accompanied by “gaita extremeña”, drum and castanets. They dance for about 10 hours in homage to the Virgin.
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“Chotis”: partnered dance of Madrid, accompanied by an “organillo”. The woman dances around the man, that stands turning on his own axis. Hence the popular saying that "it doesn't take more than a tile" to dance it. They combine the spinning routine with groups of three steps backwards and forwards. It is a local variant of the 19th-century dance called “schottisch” originated in Bohemia.
Instruments: 1. “pito”, 2. “gaita extremeña” (3-hole pipes), 3. “tamboril” (snare drum), 4. “dulzaina” (shawm), 5. “chirimía”, 6. rebec, 7. “arrabel”, 8. “almirez” (metal mortar), 9. “cucharas” (spoons), 10. “botella de anís” (anis bottle), 11. “zambomba“ (friction drum), 12. “organillo” (barrel organ).
7. ANDALUSIA & MURCIA
These regions received influences from Arab, Sephardic, Gypsy and Castilian traditions; and also America.
Traditional genres: “copla andaluza, trovo, saeta, parranda, aguilando”.
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“Flamenco”: genre which includes “cante” (singing), “toque” (guitar playing), “baile” (dance) and “palmas” (handclaps). It was developed in the 18th century from outcast populations with many influences such as Arab, Jewish, Indian and Gypsy traditions. It involves a great deal of improvisation. Its different styles are called “palos”, which are classified by criteria such as rhythmic pattern, mode, chord progression, form, etc. There are more than 50 “palos”, but only about 12 are commonly played. E.g. “alegrías, soleares, bulerías, tangos, peteneras, fandangos”, etc.
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“Sevillanas”: partnered dance developed from Castilian "seguidilla" in the 19th century. It's normally accompanied by guitars, castanets and clapping. Lyrics deal with daily life, criticisms, warnings and funny stories. It's often associated with Seville's April fair.
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“Los auroros”: polyphonic chant tradition performed at night by men “a cappella”, sometimes accompanied by bells. They sing religious songs called “salves”.
Instruments: 1. guitar, 2. handclaps, 3. castanets, 4. “cajón”, 5. “guitarro“ (small guitar).
8. CANARY ISLANDS
This region received influences from the Guanches (aboriginal Berber inhabitants), from the Iberian Peninsula; and also from some Latin American and Caribbean countries through commerce and migration.
Traditional genres: “malagueña, seguidilla, tanganillo, tajaraste”.
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“Isa”: local variation of “jota “which is accompanied by a “rondalla” of guitars or “timples”. The dance is simple at the beginning but it grows more and more complex. Lyrics are funny and sarcastic.
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“Folía”: slow and stately dance in 3/4 time, accompanied by a “rondalla”. It is danced in pairs, but the dancers never touch each other and they change partners until they go back to the original one. It was originally a Portuguese dance which later spread as a courtly dance all around Europe in the 16th century.
Instruments: 1. “timple” (small guitar), 2. “pito herreño” (transverse flute), 3. “chácaras” (big castanets).