ANDALUCIA, GYPSIES AND FLAMENCO IN SPAIN

In southern Spain, the Provinces of Sevilla, Málaga, Almeria, Cadiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva and Jaen constitute the
Andalucia region with a population of about 7 million.
Andalucians are not ethnically, but culturally distinct.
Caused by rural poverty, Andalucia lost some of its population to big cities and other European countries.

A relatively high number of the population are Andalucian Gypsies; their ancestry having migrated from India, way back in the 15th century. A good number of them settled in Triana, by the Guadalquivir river at Sevilla, which has made it an important Flamenco center today. Others went to Jerez de la Frontera
in the Cadiz province (where Sherry wine originated and is produced today) and also, some settled in Granada, where the famous "Gypsy Caves" are located in the "Sacromonte" section of the city, some turned into Tablaos where gypsy artists perform
the different Flamenco styles (palos) in song, dance, and guitar. Andalucia is unquestionably the cradle of Flamenco, mainly nourished by the alleged originators - the Andalucian gypsies. These palos are subdivided into three categories or schools called cante chico, intermedio and hondo.- Siguirillas, fandangos soleares, saetas etc. are the here called categories.
This genre is performed by a singer accompanied by one or more guitars and palmas - a synchronized, some times complex hand clapping.

During the war of reconquest, Granada was the last Andalucian city under muslim rule, to fall to the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabel in 1492, and Flamenco was influenced by the mixing of Arabic, Jewish, Christian and Gypsy musical
characteristics.

From the second half of the 19th century until 1936, when the Spanish Civil War broke out, Flamenco flourished being per-
formed in "cafes cantantes" (singing cafes); establishments that
during that time spread all over Spain. The war brought that Fla-
menco golden era to an abrupt end.

After the war, Franco promoted Flamenco as a unifying Spanish
music, and Tablaos substituted the cafe cantantes.
Tablao is a stage combined with bar service, where you can have a
glass of wine or a cocktail while watching excellent gypsy artists perform. Sevilla has some of the best, and in Madrid is maybe the most famous Tablao in the world: "El Corral de la Moreria"

In the 1970's Flamenco experienced an intense creative renewal,
with the debut of exceptional artists such as Jose Monge - better
known as Camaron de la Isla. Jazz, rock and blues elements were integrated into what was called nuevo flamenco.

Today, Flamenco's popularity keeps increasing with new young stars such as Paco de Lucia, Estrellita Morente and Ojos de Brujo,
interpreting the new styles. But the true aficionado still relishes the original Flamenco you see and listen at the good Tablaos.