Spanish music is an intricate tapestry of diverse influences that brings a distinct perspective into its cultural heritage and contemporary identity. Each genre presents an opportunity to glimpse into Spanish history.
Son cubano is an infectious rhythmic genre combining African rhythms with traditional Spanish guitar styles. Made famous worldwide by Buena Vista Social Club.
Flamenco
Flamenco is an authentic Spanish art form recognized as part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. The dance-music hybrid incorporates cante (singing) and baile (dance), often with palmas (hand clapping) or castanets.
Pepe Marchena initiated a major revolution in Flamenco music during the 1920s by “sweetening” songs so as to be more accessible for a wide range of listeners – an action widely condemned as watering down traditional Flamenco.
Murcia, a southern region that was under Moorish control during colonisation, boasts its own signature guitar-accompanied Flamenco style known as cante jondo. Navarre is another Northern Spanish region bordering Basque Country and Aragon; both regions boast their own jota traditions as well. All throughout Spain can also hear folkloric influences from Jewish and Catholic cultures within Flamenco music itself, and in the 20th century its styles began merging with rhythms from other genres such as blues or salsa inflamenco tunes!
Jazz
Jazz music is immensely popular throughout Spain. Every city and town features cozy jazz lounges for audiences to relax in; plus there are various festivals throughout the year dedicated to this genre.
Jazz in Spain blends Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz harmonies and improvisation, drawing upon musical legacy such as Tito Puente, Chucho Valdes, Arturo Sandoval’s renditions at Carnegie Hall to thrill audiences with unique interpretations of this genre.
Spain boasts a rich folk music tradition that spans its mainland and islands. Artists such as Nacho Prada and Guille Jove revitalize traditional Spanish music with modern influences while El Naan brings ancient rhythms and instruments back into a contemporary context. Additionally, an emerging trend known as Neofolk is quickly gaining momentum; artists such as Tanxugueiras have combined traditional musical and percussion styles with pop elements for an intriguing hybrid experience.
Tango
Tango is one of the world’s most celebrated Latin music genres for dance. Originating as urban music in Buenos Aires’ immigrant communities in the late 1800s, tango has combined various musical influences with its city’s long history of violent, womanizing gangsters (compadritos).
Early tango was lively and playful, but as time progressed its songs grew increasingly melancholic and its dance evolved from fast-paced styles into the smooth ballroom steps characteristic of today’s milongas. Legendary musicians who have made major contributions to tango include singer Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazzolla who modernized its instrumentation repertoire.
Corridos are Mexican folk ballads that tell tales of historical events and contemporary issues like border violence and drug trafficking. It serves as an effective form of oral history.
Corridos
Corridos are Mexican folk songs composed of narrative storytelling through song. Corridos often reflect real events and provide a platform for voices that would otherwise remain unheard. Some corridos may even be fictional like Los Tigres del Norte’s “Contrabando y Traicion,” while others embellish accuracy like older bandit ballads did.
Traditional corridos begin with an opening stanza, known as permiso, and end with one known as despedida to set the scene for what will follow. The middle stanza tells its own tale while despedida serves as either a lesson or farewell from its singer. Modern artists have added new versions to this genre such as hip hop-influenced narcocorridos or trapcorridos that give voice to marginalized areas like drug trafficking or immigrant labor.
Musica Llaneera
Musica Llanera, or Plains Music, hails from Venezuela and Colombia’s vast plains. This genre represents the folk music of llaneros (cowboys), celebrating rural life while featuring instruments like the harp, cuatro and maracas as well as high-pitched nasal vocals.
The harp has long been considered a core instrument in llanera music, providing melodic lines and harmonic support. Complementing the harp’s melodic lines are cuatros (four-stringed guitar-like instruments). Maracas are constructed using gourd shells filled with seeds or beads to add rhythmic texture and complete its overall soundscape.
Over time, several cultural influences have had an effect on Llanera music. Artists such as Simon Diaz–known as “Ambassador of Llanera”–were instrumental in popularizing it while contemporary artists continue to refine its sound.