What Instrument is Heard in Spanish Folk Music?
Spanish folk music is a genre of traditional music from Spain. It includes a wide variety of subgenres, such as Andalusian, Castilian, Extremaduran, Galician, Leonese, Murcian, Navarrese, and Valencian music.
What is Spanish Folk Music?
Spanish folk music is the music of the people of Spain. It has its roots in the music of the ancient Celts, who were the first people to settle in Spain. Spanish folk music is very diverse, and it has been influenced by the music of other cultures, including the Moorish, Gypsy, and Jewish cultures.
The Origins of Spanish Folk Music
Spanish folk music is the music of the people of Spain. It has origins in the music of ancient Rome and the music of the Moorish people who ruled Spain for centuries. Spanish folk music is very diverse, with different styles in different regions of the country.
Some of the most popular instruments heard in Spanish folk music are guitars, drums, and violins. Flamenco is a type of Spanish folk music that is very lively and tends to be played on guitars. Another popular type of Spanish folk music is called fandango. This type of music is often played on drums and violins and is very fast-paced.
The Instruments Used in Spanish Folk Music
Spanish folk music is the traditional music of Spain. It is often sung in Spanish, but there are also many songs in regional languages such as Catalan, Galician and Basque. The music is typically equipped with guitars, tambourines, castanets and sometimes even violins.
The Guitar
The History of the Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with either nylon or steel strings. Some modern guitars are made of polycarbonate materials. Guitars are made and repaired by luthiers.
There are two main types of guitars: acoustic and electric. Acoustic guitars have a hollow body, while electric guitars may have a solid body or a hollow body. The acoustic guitar is the most common type of guitar. Other types of guitars include the banjo guitar, bass guitar, Dobro®, pedal steel guitar, electric mandolin, and the lap steel guitar.
The word “guitar” comes from the Latin word “cithara” which means “seven-stringed instrument”. The Romans used this word to describe an instrument that we would today call a lyre. When the Moors invaded Spain in the 8th century, they brought with them an instrument called the “ud” or “oud” which was similar to the modern day acoustic guitar.
How the Guitar is Used in Spanish Folk Music
The guitar is a key instrument in Spanish folk music, particularly in the genre known as Flamenco. Flamenco is a style of music that originated in Andalusia, in southern Spain, and it is characterized by its use of the guitar, as well as by its fast tempo and passionate melodies.
The guitar is typically used to provide accompaniment for dancers and singers, and its distinctive sound is an essential part of the Flamenco style. The chords played on the guitar are often complex and exotic-sounding, and they create a rhythm that drives the dance.
In addition to being used in Flamenco, the guitar is also a popular choice for traditional Spanish folk songs (known as ‘fandangos’). These songs are usually slower-paced than Flamenco pieces, but they still make use of the guitar’s distinctive sound.
The Mandolin
The mandolin is a stringed musical instrument with a plucked sound. It is played with a plectrum or pick, and has a body that is typically teardrop-shaped. The mandolin is most commonly heard in Spanish folk music, but is also used in a variety of other genres.
The History of the Mandolin
The earliest mandolin-like instrument was the lute, which was first seen in artwork from the Middle Ages. The mandolin has its roots in Italy, and the first recorded mention of a mandolin was in 1397. By the 16th century, there were several different types of mandolins being played in Europe.
The modern mandolin was developed in the early 1800s. The first American-made mandolin was built in Philadelphia in 1839. The popularity of the mandolin grew throughout the 19th century, and by the early 20th century, it was one of the most popular instruments in America.
The mandolin declined in popularity during the Great Depression and World War II, but experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, the mandolin is most commonly heard in bluegrass and folk music.
How the Mandolin is Used in Spanish Folk Music
The mandolin is a small, stringed instrument that is played with a pick or plectrum. It has a long neck and a pear-shaped body, and it is usually tuned in fifths. The mandolin is used in many different genres of music, but it is particularly popular in Spanish folk music.
In Spanish folk music, the mandolin is often used to provide accompaniment for singing and dancing. It typically takes the role of the guitar in other genres of music, providing a steady rhythm for the other instruments to follow. The mandolin can also be played solo, and many Spanish folk songs featuremandolin solos.
The mandolin originated in Italy, but it has been used in Spanish music since the 18th century. It was brought to Spain by Italian immigrants, and it quickly became popular among both the aristocracy and the working class. Today, the mandolin is an essential part of Spanish folk music, and it is one of the most popular instruments in the country.
The Bandurria
The History of the Bandurria
The bandurria is a plucked chordophone from Spain. It is related to the mandolin and the bouzouki. It typically has 12 strings in four courses, double strung, and is tuned in perfect fifths. It has a small pear-shaped body.
The bandurria is believed to have originated in Spain in the 15th century, although there are some references to earlier instruments from the Middle Ages. The instrument’s name comes from the Latin word for “panther” or “leopard”, which was used to describe an early form of the instrument that had spots painted on it.
The bandurria was originally used as a folk instrument, but has since gained popularity as a solo and chamber music instrument. It is often played in Spanish folk music, as well as in other genres such as Classical, Flamenco, and Latin American music.
How the Bandurria is Used in Spanish Folk Music
The bandurria is a plucked string instrument from the lute family that is typically used in Spanish folk music. It has twelve strings (six pairs) that are tuned in unison, and it is held like a guitar. The bandurria is believed to have originated in Spain in the 16th century, and it quickly became a popular instrument among peasants and gypsies.
The bandurria was originally used as an accompaniment instrument for singing and dancing. However, it soon began to be used as a solo instrument as well. Folk musicians would often add their own personal touch to the music they played on the bandurria by adding trills, vibrato, and other embellishments.
The bandurria continued to be a popular instrument into the 20th century. In the early 1900s, a type of folk music known as “bandurria music” became popular in Spain. This genre of music featured solos and duets played on the bandurria, and it often had a lively tempo that was perfect for dancing.
Despite its popularity, the bandurria began to decline in popularity in the mid-20th century. This was due to several factors, such as the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), which caused many people to lose interest in traditional Spanish culture and music. In addition, the rise of rock and roll led many young people to abandon traditional folk instruments like the bandurria in favor of electric guitars and drums.
Despite its decline in popularity, the bandurria is still used by some Spanish folk musicians today. It has even begun to gain some popularity outside of Spain, particularly in Latin America where there is a growing interest in traditional Spanish culture and music
The Lute
The Spanish Lute or guitar is a musical instrument with a long neck and strings, traditionally used in Spanish folk music. It is a plucked string instrument with a fretted fingerboard. The modern Spanish Lute has a flat back and six or seven strings.
The History of the Lute
The lute is a plucked string instrument with a neck and a fretted fingerboard. It has a deep round back, and sometimes curved sides. The strings run over a bridge to a pegbox at the end of the neck. The instrument is held upright, either resting on the performer’s lap or on a stool.
The lute was first used in the Islamic world, where it was known as the “ud” or “oud”. It quickly spread to Europe, where it became hugely popular in the Renaissance period (14th-16th centuries). Many famous composers wrote music for the lute, including John Dowland, Alessandro Piccinini and Francesco da Milano.
The lute fell out of fashion in the 18th century, but has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity in recent years.
How the Lute is Used in Spanish Folk Music
In Spanish folk music, the lute is played in a variety of ways. It can be used to strum chords, to play single notes or melodies, or to provide a rhythmic accompaniment.
The lute is also sometimes used in a more percussive manner, by striking the strings with the fingertips legal documents fingers or with special plectrums. This technique is known as ‘flamenco strumming’ and is often used in fast-paced pieces of music.
Spanish folk music often features combinations of different types of instruments, and the lute often forms part of these ensembles. It can be accompanied by other stringed instruments such as guitars or violins, or by wind instruments such as flutes or tambourines.
