Global Posts

Many countries have their own musical styles. Spanish music, however, has been evolving because of its diversity. By meshing the cultures during the first era, or its early days, it has made an impact on each other with the early Romans bringing in new ideas and music of Greece. The rise of the Visigoths, saw the booming of sacred music and chants being restricted from the Church, and under the tolerant Moors, Jewish, Christian, and Moorish music simultaneously developed. The government declared prohibition of these types of music, during the time of Reconquista. During the Renaissance period, the music continued to evolve as instrumental music was on the rise and became popular with the influence of Arabic music and the Spanish guitar being developed. After the 16^th century, polyphonic singing style, meaning that it is a tune with many voices, were introduced through contact of France. Also, during this time musicians were traveling from country to country. After those years of rapid development, Spain was pulled from unusual features to having classical composers like Francisco Guerrero and Tomás Luis de Victoria rose to popularity. During the 17^th and 18^th centuries, zarzuela, which is the opera form, developed and became popular which culturally became phenomenal that it continues today.  Furthermore, classical music development was put to a stop to point that it declined for two centuries long. This happened because popular and folk music was booming throughout various regions of Spain. Flamenco is considered a traditional folk music that contains as many as 6 elements, such as, song, guitar, dance, hand clapping, and finger snapping. Its origin was from the members of the gypsy culture in India. It is to believe that the Roma people went to southern Spain from Rajasthan, northwest India, around the 9^th and 14^th centuries bringing large collection of songs, dances, and musical instruments. This style of music was first played and became popular in 1842 at Café sin Nombre, in Seville. During the 20^th century after the Spanish Civil War, the dictator Francisco Franco banned, burned, and rebuked all things that pertains to regional culture because he wanted the country to not only be a nationalist country, but also a country that is uniformed. However, Spain’s wide range of folk did not disappear, but it was kept hidden from Franco’s government. We can think of this as it being an underground nightclub for people to practice their culture. Once Franco’s regime ended, their culture was redeveloping in a new way as pop and rock ‘n’ roll made its way to the history of music in Spain. American and British groups were doing international performances and Spain followed suit even if Franco tried to prevent that from happening it would be impossible for him to do. The Spanish artists added Flamenco passion and rhythms to give the world a piece of Spanish music in today’s pop music. Therefore, when you arrive in Spain prepare yourself to have your ears listening to some things that you would not normally listen to in America. 

From traditional music of the region to more modern pop and rock music, there is a variety of music to be found in the city of Barcelona. Barcelona has become known for its nightclubs and bars, in which it has led to people in the younger generation to listen and dance to electronic dance music. However, there are other nightclubs and bars that plays jazz, rock, and pop. There are a lot of excellent jazz clubs that you can check out throughout the country, but Barcelona is one of the places in Spain that people visits the most because people who likes concerts, or want to see a big-time performer would go to Palau de la Musica Catalana in Barcelona. The most well-known rock band that is from Barcelona is called the Paso de Cabra. They play a Catalan-style flamenco and Catalan-rhythmic fusion bands such as the Ojos de Brujo and Muchachito Bombo Infierno, as well as Macaco, which is most appreciated, that makes up a good amount of the Catalan music scene. Barcelona host music festivals as well as its variety of experiences and venues hence the name “City of Festivals”. The best time to go to these festivals is from mid-September to early October as that is when the festival begins in Barcelona, and it happens every year. The city’s environment makes it an ideal place to share the best music for both the Spanish and international cultures.   Aside from the music, it is also well-known for its outstanding football team, architect, beaches, and food. Picture that you could be at a beautiful hotel, or restaurants eating some good food while sitting in an ambience environment listening to Catalan music. You may be asking what kind of dance would they do if they heard music, or do they dance at all? The answer to that question is they do a folk dance called Catalan Rumba. The only time that this dance occurs is when the music has a flamenco or other popular Latin music. This dance is performed mainly in the streets, in which that is how it gained its popularity during the 1960s. Musicians that helped put Barcelona on the map as a musical destination (which I would call the Beatles of Barcelona) are Pablo Casais, who is a cellist, the opera singer Montserrat Caballé, and a rock band. Many people go to Barcelona because of the location, the climate, the food, and most importantly a place where you can live a relaxing lifestyle while you are on vacation. I know that this place is a great place to be, not just because of the music, but what the music brings, and the environment, or venues that it can be played. If you are planning to have a wedding, and need to have a live band to perform during the event, or hiring a DJ, the arrangements can be made for that. Music in the Spanish culture is based on spirited energy and romantic appeal, which is considered top priority in Spain.