Big Blog II: Flamenco

    I am doing my last big blog on Spanish Flamenco music. I chose this because Spanish pop is one of my favorite genres of music to listen to, and I wanted to learn more about this kind of music that Dr. Vaneman just happened to mention. She brought up the dancers that also go along with this music, which would be a perfect topic to discuss. So here is everything I learned about Flamenco Spanish music. 

As we all know, music is its own art form, and there are many unique kinds of music; flamenco music is based on various folkloric music traditions from southern Spain. It’s a form of singing, dance, and instrumental music associated with the Andalusian Roma, also known as the gypsies of southern Spain. It's developed in the gitano subculture in the region of Andalusia, which is a southern community of Spain’s peninsula. Flamenco is a term used to describe and refer to various contemporary and traditional music styles in Spain. The oldest record of Flamenco music goes back to 1744 in the book Las Cartas Marruecas by José Cadalso. Cadalso was a Spanish army general who also doubled as a poet, playwriter, and someone who contributed to Spanish literature. Even though we know much information about Flamenco music, a majority of the roots of this music are mysterious, and we don’t know exactly where the sources are. 

We know this migration came from northwest India to Spain between the 9 and 14 centuries. There is no telling exactly who or when these people came to Spain, but it was somewhere during those centuries. Nomads and migrants brought instruments with them. We know and are familiar with many of the instruments they brought with them, like the tambourines and bells, but one instrument I just learned they brought was wooden castanets. They are also called scrapers and look like a seashell split into half, then strung on a piece of yarn and shaken to make clapping sounds. Along with their instruments, they also bought their songs and dances when Spaniards came across string cultures of the Sephardic Jews and Moors, the art known as Flamenco was born. 

In flamenco, there are four categories or elements: Cante or the voice, Baile which is dance; Toque, also known as the guitar; and then Jaleo, which is hand clapping, stomping of feet, and shouting. Cante is the most crucial part and the genre's soul and heart. With these four elements, there are around 50 total different varieties of rhythm and series of beats. Within each category, there are further subcategories in each component. In Cante or the voice element, there are three subcategories: cante jondo, which is. Deep or profound song, the cante intermedio, known as the intermediate song or cante flamenco, and lastly, cante chico, known as the light song. There is another style of cante that isn’t a part of the four elements but is still essential, and that is cantes libres. 

The cante jondo has a structure on a complex 12-beat rhythm which is also the oldest form of flamenco. This kind of music deals with heavy emotions and themes of despair, death, anguish, and religious doubt.  Cante intermedio is a looser kind of music encompassing all forms that aren’t cante chico, cante grande, or jondo. It also incorporates Spanish music styles like the fandango. The fandango is a type of music used for courtship and expresses passion. Cante Chico has a lighter and upbeat, happy mood. It is less complicated and less complicated in rhythm. This kind of music deals with themes like love, humor, and happiness. And lastly, cantes libres is a piece of formless flamenco music when the melody plays a more significant part while rhythm does not apply. 

So, after all the singing and those different categories and elements, there's the flamenco dancing part. This part is the Baile and a guitar usually accompanies the dance. The guitar was meant to keep the pace and beat to make it easier for the dancer to stay on track. The dancers can be male or female, using a series of steps, either choreographed or improvised. Since the mid-19th century, the Baile has been an essential part of Flamenco, and ever since then, flamenco is only performed with a dancer. The partner to the dancer is the singer, and they tell and relate the stories to the daily lives of an outcast culture within a primarily white Christian part of Spain. The dancer's job is to interpret the singer's story and narrative. The flamenco baile is a fluid motion with personalization to each song. The dancing involves footwork, tapping of toes and heels, and movement of the hands, fingers, arms, and upper torso.

    Whether the dancer is female, bailaora, or male, bailaor, they focus on the critical movements of different body parts. For example, the male dancers focus more on the footwork, while the female dancers focus more on the actions of the hands and upper torsos. Females have a wide variety of clothing they can wear for their dances. They can wear long, formal, ruffled dresses or simple, long, modest ones. Males have a smaller range of clothing they can choose from. They will typically wear a shirt under a vest with long trousers or pants that are usually black. Both costumes worn by both dancers are also tight fitting. For extra flare, a man can wear a hat or scarf. 

    The “golden” age for flamenco was around 1780-1854. During this time, singing was the primary aspect, and then came dancing. As time passed, flamenco went from an outdoor, family-oriented activity to a piece of more formal music and dance. As this happened, it also changed the importance of singing and dancing, where dancing was now the primary aspect rather than singing. 

    Here are a few videos of famous Flamenco dancers, both female and male. But the most famous and well-known male flamenco dancer is Joaquin Cortes. For women, the best flamenco dancer that’s known around the world is Carmen Amaya Amaya.

                                                                Here is a Flamenco dance.

                                                                    This is Joaquin Cortes.

                                          This video is a compilation of 5 popular Flamenco songs.

                                         Here is a little dance sequence to learn if you're interested.

Citations:

 “The Most Famous Flamenco Dancers in History: Gran Gala Flamenco.” Barcelona y Flamenco, 18 Jan. 2023, https://www.grangalaflamenco.com/en/blog/flamenco-dancers-famous/#:~:text=Surely%20the%20most%20internationally%20known,of%20wearing%20pants%20on%20stage. 

Faustina MulnikFreelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish AcademyAs a native English speaker. “Top 12 Most Incredible Spanish Dancers in the World.” Homeschool Spanish Academy, 19 Nov. 2021, https://www.spanish.academy/blog/top-12-most-incredible-spanish-dancers-in-the-world/#:~:text=1.,Joaqu%C3%ADn%20Cort%C3%A9s&text=Joaqu%C3%ADn%20Cort%C3%A9s%20is%20trained%20in%20ballet%20and%20flamenco%20dancing. 

“Flamenco.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/art/flamenco. 

“Flamenco.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Apr. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flamenco. 

Music and Family: Featuring my Dad

Over spring break, I had lots of time to hang out with my family and friends, whom I don't get to see very often because I'm at school, just like the rest of us. I have always been super close to my dad and loved the kinds of music he plays, so he was perfect to interview. I gave him 12 questions of the ones we came up with in class, and these are his responses. My dad's name is Mark, and he is 49 years old. He is also a doctor who works with older people with memory issues or who are admitted to the hospital, 

Me: What is your favorite type of music?

Mark: My favorite types of music are hard rock and classic rock.

Me: Why do you like that type of music?

Mark: I enjoy this music most because, as a child, I grew up in the 1980s when heavy metal and hard rock were very popular.

Me: Who's your favorite artist?

Mark: My favorite artist is Bon Jovi.

Me: Do you have a favorite song? Why?

Mark: My favorite song of all time is “Jump” by Van Halen. This is ironic as my favorite song did not come from my favorite band.

Me: How have your musical tastes changed over the course of your life?

Mark: My musical tastes have certainly expanded as I have gotten older. Right now, I enjoy all types of music, primarily classic rock, jazz, piano, and country.

Me: Did you play any instruments or sing when you were younger?

Mark: I did play the drums briefly as a young child but never officially performed in any capacity.

Me: How has music impacted you throughout your life?

Mark: Music has always been a part of my life, mainly because my older brother played the electric guitar. I was heavily influenced by the musical selections that he played. I always played music to get me energized for any sporting events that I was involved in as an athlete.

Me: What did your parents think of your music?

Mark: My parents, at the time, honestly did not pay much attention to what I was listening to. As I look back, I’m sure some of my musical selections weren’t in my best interest, but they did not influence my behavior as I got older.

Me: What do you think of the music today's young listen to?

Mark: I’m not a big fan of today’s music. Primarily hip-hop and rap do not appeal to me. I know this is a large market. There are a lot of young kids that enjoy this type of music and are heavily influenced by it. It is just not my preference.

Me: Have you been to any live concerts? Who was it? What were the concerts like?

Mark: I’ve been to many concerts over the years, including Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Phil Collins, Don Henley, kiss, Def Leppard, foreigner, and Journey, just to name a few.

Me:  What is music for?

Mark: I think music has many purposes. Obviously, there is the entertainment purpose for which the majority of people enjoy. However, music can also be used therapeutically for young children if they are anxious, as well as in the geriatric population, specifically in dementia and memory care units, where it is helpful for sometimes calming agitated residents. 

Me: Do you like my music?

Mark: I like some of the music that you listen to, primarily country. As I stated in a previous question, I’m not a particular fan of hip-hop or rap music.

Here is my dad's favorite song, "Jump," if you have never heard it.

Big Bog: Country

     Hearing about this Big Blog, I was excited to learn more about how music genres were formed. Country, the songs are all about beer, girls, and trucks. Even though this is partly true, I wanted to learn more about the history and how it was brought to America. The country is a genre of music that originates in the Southern and Southwestern parts of the United States. Country music was first produced in the 1920s, focusing mainly on middle-working-class Americans and the so-called "blue-collar" lifestyle. In short terms, a blue-collar American lifestyle is a group of people who take part in hard manual labor. Jobs considered blue-collar include electricians, construction, mining, warehouse work, etc. Many people work "blue-collar" physically demanding jobs today, just like in history. 

    Modern country is a lot different than older country music. The main components that make up a modern country came from the Appalachian Mountains, Tennessee, and parts of Mississippi and Louisiana. Fun fact the US Congress has officially recognized and named Bristol, Tennessee, the "birthplace of country music." The accordion, banjo, bass, drums, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, washboard, and piano are used to create country-style music. These instruments are still used in modern country music, which is impressive since instruments and music have come a long way since then. There were 6 main generations of country music and how it changed.  Im going to recap the first 4 generations and then talk about today and modern country. 

    Generations of musicians blended English ballads with Celtic and Irish fiddle songs and added their own influences. The first generation was in the early 1920s, launching the country's earliest recording artists like James Gideon "Gid" Tanner. He was an old-time fiddler and a part of the band Gid Tanner and his skillet Lickers, one of the most innovative and influential string bands of this time. They were from Georgia and created the first ever "hillbilly" songs and records. They used guitars, banjos, and the fiddle, followed by their vocals, to make their music. Their kind of music is fast-paced and has many note changes, almost like what you would expect from the old country. They would sing about their jobs, daily work, and the blue-collar American life they have to live to provide and survive. Over 5 years, they created and recorded 88 sides, and their best-selling single was "Down Yonder." Down Yonder was a hillbilly breakdown, which is when a part in the song has various instruments, solo parts, and breaks. They can also repeat verses together. Breakdowns are a very popular country music style, particularly in bluegrass styles. 

    

    The next generation is from around the 1930s to the 1940s. The radio was a significant and widespread source of entertainment at this time, along with "barn dance" shows.  These shows featured country music and were all around the south, going as far North as Chicago and West to California. This was the primary way the country was spread throughout America during this time, not just staying in the South-East. Since country music made its way west, cowboy songs and Western music were popularized in Hollywood films. This caused the rise of Hiram "Hank" Williams, who was a part of many western movies and the "singing cowboys." Hank was a musician and singer-songwriter born in 1938, raised in the Great Plains, and became popular in Hollywood. He then created a string band named "Drifting Cowboys" that also appeared in these films and made other debuts. His music was a mix of jazz and country, which started as dance hall music and then became western swing. He was also one of the first country musicians to add the electric guitar to his string band. He and his band recorded 55 singles that made it to the top 10 of the Billboard country and western Best Sellers charts. One fun fact about Hank is that his songs have been remade and covered by today's most famous country singers like Luke Combs, Tim McGraw, Lainey Wilson, and Joey Allcorn. 

       

Here is a video of Lainey Wilson's cover of "Lost Highway" by Hank Williams. 

    
    The next generation started around the time World War II was coming to an end. In this period, components of Gospel music became a popular part of country music. Nearing closer to the end of the 1950s and early 1960s is when country music started to boom emerge. Since Tennessee was the "birthplace of country music," the Nashville Sound turned country music into a multimillion-dollar industry in Tennessee. This brought the rise of Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves. They were two of the most famous country artists from the Nashville area and got a great incline to the Country genre of music at this time. Cline and Reeves both died in separate plane accidents. This hit the Country music genre hard, and the loss of these two famous artists caused a significant decline in the genre's popularity during the 1960s. 

    The fourth and fifth generations were from the 1970s-1990s. This was when the use of outlaw country, country pop, and folk music were all incorporated into the country music genre. Outlaw country is a subgenre of American country music that was created by a small group of artists who fought for and won their creative freedom outside of the Nashville Sound, which dictated the majority of the country music in this era.  Outlaw was a mix of blues, rockabilly, and honky tonk music. Pretty much the main things people think of when they hear country music; are bars, girls, beer, and trucks. The people in this time and outlaw country were heavily influenced by Hank Williams, one of history's most famous country music artists. In the 1980s, artists went against the norms and rejected more polished country pop. This is the kind of country we have today. In the 1990s, stadiums, and shows started to prosper.

    The final generation of country music is from the 200s to the present. We have artists like Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Chris Lane, ERNST, Riley Green, and many others who have contributed to modern-day country music. Today, country music is much more upbeat and has hints of hip-hop blended into the songs. All these artists I listed above have hints of gospel, hip-hop, and country pop in their songs. Country music today has also shifted from a less Gospel stance and more of a patriotic view. There are still some Gospel ties into pieces, but it's steered away and added more factors and changes back a few generations ago. A new addition to country music is the use of rock in this genre, which has dramatically influenced artists from the 2000s-2010.

Here is a little playlist of the top 100 best modern-day country artists and their top hit songs. 

    CITATIONS:

Center, Norton. “The Origins of Country Music.” Centre College's Norton Center For The Arts, 23 Feb. 2022, https://nortoncenter.com/2017/03/19/the-origins-of-country-music/#:~:text=Country%20music%20originated%20in%20the,European%20immigrants%20who%20settled%20nearby.

“Country Music.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Mar. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_music.

“Hank Williams.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Mar. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Williams.

 

Music and Gender: The Expectations

  Gender roles are in everything we do, no matter what it is. Music gender roles are something I honestly have not thought about. But once you reflect on music and gender, it is weird to think about and realize how there are gender roles in the music aspect as well. I have a lot of examples that I can think of, but I'm only going to talk about a few. My first example of gender in music is the type of instruments men and women play and what those expectations are. Drums are a great example of this topic. Men play the drums most of the time, and that’s usually how it goes. But what's cool is when you see a girl play the drums because girls are expected to play the piano or another instrument that doesn’t portray “masculinity.” I didn’t even realize that fewer girls are playing the drums than men until I thought about gender in the music and how it affects different aspects.
    

One female drummer I found while researching is Hannah Welton. She started playing the drums when she was younger, which has stuck with her. A fun fact I found about her is that in 2013 she was invited by Prince to play in his backing band 3rdeyegirl. She is also supervised by the most renowned drummers, including Pete Erskin and Louie Bellson. Many people use the excuse that “girls don’t play the drums,” but why? There is not a single instrument made just for one gender or another. People play what they like and what they enjoy. And if you're good at something, you're going to continue to play it no matter what the instrument is. 

Another example of how there are gender roles in music is the type of music men and women are supposed to listen to. The genres men are supposed to listen to are what we would assume: Rock, Hip-hop, rap, and the list goes on. I'm not sure when men were expected to listen to these types of music began, but I think it is stupid. People can and should listen to whatever music they enjoy. This also goes for women; the assumed pop, contemporary hits, and dance-pop that women listen to should not be expected of them to listen to. Everyone is different and has different interests and things they like and dislike. Music is supposed to make people happy, feel good, and for us to enjoy. Gender expectations shouldn’t keep people from listening to what they like or want. 

 

Music and Rituals: Sports

    I've grown up playing sports and being around events that revolve around athletics. Baseball games, football games, basketball games, and soccer are all sporting events I've been to, where music is essential. The genre and style of the music played at these places are different, but they all use music for the same reasons. For example, in all these settings, music is played while the teams are warming up to get them pumped up and ready to play. For example, a song many people know that is played when teams are warming up is one that I love and put in my last blog, Enter Sandman by Metallica. Rock is upbeat, preparing people to play and be in the “zone.” Other songs that many people know are played before a match or game are Thunderstruck by ACDC and Eye of the Tiger by Survivor. Rock music is fast-paced and loud, which I think is a great thing to listen to before you play a game. Another genre of music that is used before a competition or game is rap or pop. Rap is very popular; many younger people use it to focus and prepare for competition. Some songs typically on every rap playlist are Fight Night by Migos, Started from the Bottom by Drake, and Congratulations by Post Malone. Rap has solid beats and creative lyrics. These pregame songs pump the players up, keep the crowd on edge, and prepare them to watch and stay excited. 

    Music is also used for more than just warming up and getting ready to play. In baseball, they have walk-out songs. If you're unfamiliar with baseball, many people don’t know that each player chooses a piece that will play over the loudspeakers as they walk up to bat. These songs are unique to each player and can be any appropriate song of their choice. Another fundamental music-related part of baseball is celebrating the big moments, like when someone hits a home run. One basic song most people know and is played at a baseball field is take me out to the ball game and the song Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. Everyone knows that Sweet Caroline is a song that people come together to sing, and the central part is the “dun dun dun.” Playing this song creates a sense of togetherness and unity among all fans because everyone screams that line at the top of their lungs; it is a super fun experience.

Music and Me

Hi, my name is Olivia Giarrizzi. I am from Fort Mill, South Carolina, but I was born in Pennsylvania. I play soccer here at Converse and planning on majoring in biology with a minor in Spanish. I have three sisters, Izzy (20), Sophia (17), and Gabby (14). We have a dog named Luna and a cat named Goose. Some things about me are that I love to shop, spend time with my friends and family, and I enjoy traveling, especially if it's somewhere warm. 

If we're being honest, I love all kinds of music and am open to almost anything, but my go-to piece would have to be anything by Midland. My favorite song by them right now is "And Then Some." I enjoy listening to this song because it makes me calm and relaxed. I love playing this song while driving by myself or with friends, cleaning my room, or just chilling. Another reason I enjoy this artist is that they have pieces for any mood I may be in, whether happy or sad. I like this song's "vibe" and the lyrics. My favorite line in this song is when he says, "and my heart starts to think that I don't miss you, but I still miss you, and then some." I chose this song because I like it, and someone else may enjoy it as much as I do.

And Then Some

I've had many songs that mean a lot to me and have memories attached which get brung back when those specific songs are played, but one piece in particular hits home the most. My family and I love listening to Rock or Heavy Metal when traveling or riding in the car. This song is called "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. Yes, this is random, and some may find it weird, but it reminds me of my strong relationship with my family. They have always been there for me and pushed me to be the best version of myself, so I hold them close to my heart. When I miss my family, I put this song on, and it makes me happy because it reminds me of all the time I spent with them now that I'm away from home. If anyone chooses to listen to this song, listen with an open mind. I know it's kind of weird, but I chose this song because of its solid memories and connection to my family. Enter Sandman 

I've said that I enjoy all types of music, but there is one genre I can't connect with, so I don't really listen to it. This genre is rap, which is surprising because it's very popular in today's world. I know people listen to rap songs while working out, before a game, getting pumped up, or jamming with friends. But honestly, I don't connect with any of the artists or songs produced by rappers. This doesn't mean I will make someone turn it off if they start to play it, but rap would not be my first choice in music type. The fast-paced talking/ singing in rap songs sometimes makes it hard for me to hear or understand what they're saying.  Rap God