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This website presents an overview of the traditional music of Spain, placed within the
broader context of the culture (and history) of Spain. The regions (in this order):
Celtic peoples from Central-Europe settled here from about 1000 BC. Where in more southern and eastern parts
of the Iberian peninsula the Celts agglomerated with the Iberians (and some other peoples),
in this part of the Iberian peninsula the Celtic culture and society stayed being dominating.
Just as certain Celtic cultural
and sociological characteristics survived in these northwestern
parts of Spain,
many Celtic musical traditions also remain.
The Basques form a people of their own with in fact an unknown origin. They have an own language (of unknown origin) and many ancient traditions and cultural characteristics remain.
Musical traditions also remain. Typically in Basque music is the somewhat collective character
of it. Choir-singing is important in a lot of Basque music. Music structures in Basque music often are
of ancient origin. The Basques have some unique musical instruments such as the Txalaparta: a wooden instrument consisting of a sort of board(s) played by sticks and with high drum sounds, and the Txistu:originally a shepherd's flute with a somewhat shrill sound and playable with one hand. Another instrument used in Basque music is the Alboka (a type of horn/clarinet).
Other used musical instruments include drums (often combined with the Txistu: with the other hand) and trumpets. In this mainly agraric region, the people are for a great part of Iberian (the Iberians originally came from North-Africa) and mixed Iberian and Celtic (Celtiberian) descent, but there were also other influences in the course of history, still notable today, such as North-African Islamic (Moorish) influences and some French influences in the north.
The roots of the Jota-music style, which today has spread over the whole of Spain, lie in this region, especially in the southern half of Aragón. Aragón is the birthplace of the Jota.The 'Jota' is a relatively uptempo style of music and is relatively rhythmic. It is characterized by repeating musical (especially rhythmic) patterns and also changes in tonallity. It is often accompanied by typical dances. The instruments used to play the Jota are the Spanish
castanets, (often) flutes, tambourines and other instruments and there is also human singing. In different parts of Spain different instruments are used. The Aragonese Jota is of a relatively high tempo. There is no certainty about the origins of the Jota. Some say the Jota is of Moorish origin, some date the origin of the Jota back to the music styles and musical structures of the Iberians and Celtiberians.
In Aragón drums and drumming have a quite dominating place in the traditional music: in the folkloric as well as in the ceremonial music. There isn't any certainty about the origin of the dominance of drums and drumming in the music. It's possibly a inheritance of the Iberians who were of North-African origin and related to the nowadays called Berbers, Tuaregs and other Hamitic peoples: people with a culture and music wherein drums and drumming also play an important role.
These relatively small regions lie west of Aragon and south of the Basque region. The north of the region Navarra, that lies against the Pyrenees, belongs for a great part to the Basque cultural region. The southern part of Navarra, comprising the valley of the river Ebro, has more similarities with Aragón and La Rioja and has only small Basque influences. This large interior region made up of a relatively dry highplain (highland) interchanged and surrounded by mountain ranges, comprises the northern half of Castilla and the region Leon in the west (bordering to Portugal and Galicia). The people are for a great part of Celtiberian (mixed Iberian and Celtic) descent, but in this inland region there were many other influences in the course of history: Jewish, Roman, Visigothic, Gipsy and Moorish (North African Islamic). Here the Jota - originally from Aragon - plays also an important role in the traditional music of the region. The Jota of the region has a relatively slow tempo: slower then the Jota of Aragon. In every Castilian (and Leonese) province there are small diferences between the Jota played there and per province there are also different musical instruments used for it. For this whole region one can say however that the Jota has a relatively slow tempo. In northwestern parts of this region, more specifically northern parts of the provinces Leon and Palencia there are some similarities with the music and culture of Galicia and Asturias, such as the use of the Gaita (bagpipe). In another part of the province of Leon, the region around Astorga, there are still some remainders of the culture of the Maragatos-people who once lived in this region and whose origin is not exactly known. It is assumed that they are of mixed Hamitic (Berber/Iberian) and Gothic descent, due to their physical traits. The region with the capital of Spain Madrid lies in Central-Spain. Madrid, the capital of Spain, has, since it is the capital of Spain, attracted in the course of history, many people from other parts of Spain, especially poorer parts. There are therefore influences from all parts of Spain in Madrid and the culture and music of different regions and parts of Spain are kept alive in cultural and musical centres.
The overview is per (autonomous) region (and part) of Spain.
In the following order the regions (and parts) of Spain will be described especially concerning
traditional music, placed - as said - in the broader context of the culture (and history) of these regions.
Also some other aspects will be mentioned.
At the end you will find a glossary of terms related to Spanish traditional music.
THE NORTHWESTERN REGIONS GALICIA, ASTURIAS AND CANTABRIA
Ancient traditional Celtic melody, harmony
and rhythm structures still dominate the traditional music from these regions. The instruments also
mostly have Celtic origins.
Most commonly used are the bagpipes (called: Gaita in Spain), drums, flutes, harps (especially in Galicia) and the clarinet (in Cantabria). The music
often has a melancholic feel, especially in Galicia.
Along with other regions in Europe, such as Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Brittanny, these regions in the northwest of Spain belong to the regions where the ancient Celtic traditions and music survived.
Galician Gaita (bagpipe).
THE BASQUE REGION (EUSKADI): (Northwest/North-Spain)
an Alboka played
the Txalaparta played
ARAGÓN
(northeast/Eastern Spain)
Other musical instruments in Aragon include rattles and a type of guitar, known as the 'guitarro'. This type of guitar is also used in other parts of Spain, such as La Mancha, Murcia and Andalusia.
Aragonese 'guitarro'
(Southern)NAVARRA and LA RIOJA (North/Central/North Spain)
In Southern-Navarra the Jota plays also an important role in the traditional music. In Navarra it has the same relatively high tempo as in neighbouring Aragón. In La Rioja the Jota also plays an important role in the traditional music. Culturally and musically the La Rioja-region has many similarities with neighbouring southern Navarra and Aragón.
CASTILLA Y LEON/CASTILA AND LEON (Northern Central Spain)
The city Salamanca in the southwest of the region, a university-city with a long student-tradition, is the city of the 'Tuna': a type of serenade, performed for loved ones, wherefore the performers (often students) dress in medieval clothes and play music with mostly a mellow character and played with guitars and some tambourines.Other used musical instruments in Castilla y Leon are percussion instruments.
The 'chotis' is a type of music in the city.
The 'castizos' (original Madrilens) and other people in the region have a culture and music related to the culture and music of surrounding Castilla (Castile).
This large region comprises the southern half of Castilla (Castile) and the province of Albacete in the southeastern part of the region, which formerly was part of the region of Murcia. Castilla La Mancha lies on the southern part of the relatively dry Spanish Highplain or Spanish Highland, the 'Meseta', and is surrounded by mountain ranges.
In this interior region there were different influences in the course of history: Jewish, Roman, Visigothic, Moorish.
In this region the Jota also plays an important role in the traditional music and there are also some influences from bordering Andalusia: from Flamenco music or music related to Flamenco, such as the Seguiriya. The tambourine is a much used musical instrument.
EXTREMADURA (Southwest-Spain)
This agraric region is for some time now economically the poorest Spanish region. Different cultures have influenced this region: Iberians, Ligurians, Celts and later there were Roman, Carthaginian, Moorish, Jewish, Visigothic influences and influences from other parts of Spain.
The Jota plays a role in the traditional music of the region and the Extremaduran Jota is played often with accordion, flute, castanets, guitars, tambourines and triangle. There is often a somewhat melancholic feel in the traditional music, somewhat like bordering Portugal. There are some similarities from Extremadura with Andalusia and there are also influences from bordering Andalusia and Andalusian music. Musical instruments used include the flute, the accordion, drums, guitars, the 'zambomba': a sort of drum, played by pulling a rope from within the drum and which is found also in other parts of Spain.
Zambomba
CATALONIA (Northeast-Spain)
This region recieved many influences in history: it was one of the most Romanised regions of Spain and also recieved Iberian, Celtic, Ligurian, Visigothic, Frank and other influences and also from bordering France from where Catalonia is relatively well accesible, because of the lowening of the Pyrenees.
The 'cobla': a group of brass musicians play an important role in Catalan traditional music. The brass include types of clarinets. These 'coblas' accompany typical dances such as the 'Sardana' (a circle dance). The music of the 'cobla' is often somewhat serene. Drum-instruments are also used.
VALENCIA/THE VALENCIAN REGION (East-Spain, Eastcoast, Southeast-Spain)
This Mediterranean region received more Moorish influences than bordering Catalonia. The people are for a great part of Iberian descent, but there were also other influences, such as Roman, as said Moorish, Carthaginian, Phoenician, Greek and other influences and also influences from other parts of Spain, such as Catalonia and also Aragon.
The Jota came relatively soon from bordering Aragon to the Valencian region and plays an important role in Valencian traditional music.
Moorish influences are notable in music in the region, for instance in the music during festivities, such as the festivities of the 'Misteri/Misterio' in Elche/Elx in the south of the Valencian region.
MURCIA (Southeast-Spain)
Murcia is an arid region which received some more Castilian and Andalusian influences than bordering Valencia. Murcia has received relatively a lot of Moorish influences. The people are for a great part of Iberian descent.
The influence of bordering Andalusia is notable in the music of this region. The emotional and intens and slow 'Cante Jondo' (meaning: 'profound' or 'deep' singing), accompanied by guitar, has an influence in this region.
ANDALUSIA (Southern Spain)
This big region has received many influences throughout history and a lot of Moorish influences. Other influences include Gipsy, Carthiginian, Jewish, Roman, Visigothic, Byzantine and from other parts of Spain.
Andalusia is the birthplace of the 'Flamenco' music style. Flamenco music is worldwide the most well-known Spanish music style. Flamenco originated in the provinces of Cadiz and Seville and soon spread to the other Andalusian provinces, each province adding own influences.
Flamenco music comprises many sub-styles of music, for a great part originated in specific provinces or regions.Flamenco originated as a mix from different musical influences in Andalusia, such as Moorish influences, Jewish influences, Christian influences, Greek influences, Byzantine influences, some Visigothic influences and Gipsy-influences. It was among part of the Gypsies in the Seville and Cadiz-region that the blend and mix of music originated that resulted in Flamenco music. The guitar came to play an important role in Flamenco music.
Andalusia and Spain were the first regions in Europe where the Moors introduced musical instruments preceding the guitar, known as 'al Khitara' and which precede the Spanish and all other types of guitar. The guitars are very important in Flamenco and are played in Flamenco one string at a time - plucked - and all strings at a time interchangeably.There are many substyles and also related styles of music in Andalusia. There's the Sevillana - accompanying a typical dance - characterized by a sort of choir-singing and stops. There is the Cante Jondo (deep or profound singing or song) of a slow, emotional and sober character: mostly sung by one singer and accompanied by one guitar. The Cante Jondo plays an important role in eastern parts of Andalusia, such as in the province of Almeria. The Cante Jondo probably has its origin in lithurgic singing.
In flamenco music there is often also hand-clapping.
Besides the guitar, musical instruments used in Andalusian traditional music include drums and drumming instruments and percussion instruments.
THE BALEARIC ISLANDS (Mediterranean Sea between Sardinia and Eastern Spain)
The islands are influenced by parts of Spain, such as Catalonia, Valencia and Aragon, and also by Moors, Romans, Phoenicians and there are also influences from other Mediterranean cultures and Normandic influences.
On these islands the Jota also plays an important role in the traditional music. The Balearic Jota is characterized by a relatively slow tempo and the use of rasping instruments, such as rattles.
THE CANARY ISLANDS (Eastern Atlantic Ocean, at the level of Southern Morocco)
The Canary islands have the remainders of the ancient culture of the Guanches (a Hamitic Berber-people from North-Africa/the African continent) and have received influences from different parts of Spain/continental Spain, such as Andalusia and Galicia, and also some from Portugal. There are also influences from Latin-America.
All these influences are notable in Canarian traditional music. The Jota also plays a role. Musical instruments used include stringed instruments: guitars and the 'charanga' (a stringed instrument, a type of guitar) which is also used in Central- and South-America and drums and drumming instruments and percussion instruments.
Alboka
(musical instrument)
Type of horn-instrument used in Basque music.
Cante Jondo
(type of music)
Cante Jondo means 'profound (deep) singing'. It is a type of music within Flamenco-music characterized by its dramatic, emotional and intense character. This less festive type of Flamenco-music comprises many types of (singing and music) styles such as tonas, seguiriyas, soleares.
The
lyics of Cante Jondo-songs have a deep, philosophical meaning. Cante Jondo probably has its origins in lithurgic singing.
Castanets
(musical instrument)
Wooden instrument made up by two small wooden pieces, played by clapping the two pieces to one another in one hand. Produces high drum sounds.
Played all over Spain.
Chalaparta, see Txalaparta
Charanga
(musical instrument)
Stringed instrument/type of guitar used on the Canary Islands, and which is also used in Central- and South-America.
Chistu, see Txistu
Cobla
A group of brass musicians (including clarinets) playing an important role in traditional music in/from Catalonia.
Flamenco
(type of music, & dance)
Music style (or: a family of music styles) from Andalusia, in which the (Spanish) guitar plays an important role. The guitar is often played
plucked and played all strings at once interchangeably.
There exist more abundant or festive types of Flamenco, and more slow and sober types.
The different types of Flamenco-music often get combined with specific dances.
Moorish, Jewish, Byzantine, Gipsy, Visigothic and other influences are combined in Flamenco-music.
See also Cante Jondo and Sevillana.
Gaita
(musical instrument)
Spanish type of bagpipe, especially found in northwestern parts of Spain.
Jota
(type of music, & dance)
Uptempo type of music of an especially rhythmic character, and mostly in 3/16 bar. Typically in Jota-music are the changes in tonallity.
It originated in the southern part of the region Aragón, but got spread all over Spain. In different parts and provinces of Spain different instruments are used. Much used are castanets, tambourines, drums,
flutes and other instruments.
Though basically an uptempo type of music, there are more uptempo types of Jota (for instance in Aragon and Navarre) and slower types of Jota (for instance in Castile).
It is accompanied by a specific dance.
Sevillana
(type of music, & dance)
Type of Flamenco-music with choir singing and stops.
Often accompanied by a typical dance.
Tuna
(type of music/song)
Type of serenade in/from the university-city Salamanca, often played by students for loved ones.
It usually has a mellow character, and is mostly played with guitars and tambourines.
Txalaparta
(musical instrument)
Wooden instrument consisting of one or more (wooden) board(s) and played by dropping sticks on the board(s) and catching them again.
The Txalaparta produces high drum sounds.
Used in Basque music.
Txistu
(musical instrument)
Type of flute - originally a shepherd's flute - with a high, shrill sound and which is playable with one hand.
Used in Basque music.
Zambomba
(musical instrument)
Type of drum played by pulling a rope from within the drum.
