The Mystery at the Heart of Flamenco

In this video I look at the huge range of influences that go into making Flamenco music what it is - the European "common practice" chord progressions, the Islamic scales, the music of Gypsies, the music of Berbers, and finally, the guitar itself.
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Research:
Evolution and Structure in Flamenco Harmony - Academic Commons
academiccommons.columbia.edu/...
Correlates between Berber and Flamenco Rhythms | Samuel Thomas
www.academia.edu/5669246/Corre...
Flamenco Guitar History Style and Context
academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/vi...
From Scarlatti to _Guantanamera Dual tonicity in Spanish and Latin American musics
www.academia.edu/9768131/_From...
Music Examples:
• Video
• Moraito Chico - Tangos
• TARANTOS FLAMENCO Isab...
• María Terremoto por So...

[@roadman_hanzi]

As an north African Arab I gotta point out.. In middle east we have around 8 main scales that can be summarized in 1 word صنع بسحرك Every letter is a scale Sabba Nahawand 'Ajam Bayat/beyat Sika Hijaz Rast And kurd aka the kurdish scale.. The kurdish scale is the same as the Phrygian mode be it in some regions there are some alterations but generally it is similar And about the ryhtms of flamenco and morroco , this extends to the neighboring countries too ..sudan for example (my country) has a similar rhythm to Moroccan music to a degree but we differ in musical traditions , But yeah flamenco is interesting

[@goshu7009]

I am from Bulgaria. We created those Scales. We have them all in our Folklore, which is from Orphey. We remember the time when there was no MAJOR music, only Minor.

[@mirceagogoncea]

As a guitarist with a significant connection to Spanish music, I wasn't expecting this to be so incredibly accurate! I almost started watching this video only to feel superior (kinda like a native speaker of English would watch a video explaining how to speak English), but I couldn't actually pinpoint any inaccuracy or undeserved oversimplification whatsoever! :D In fact, I learned some new things, like the fact that there is a Berber rhythm so similar to the bulerias. Amazing! Thank you so much for making this and informing people about the beauty of Spanish music.

[@DBruce]

Lovely to hear, thanks so much!

[@raconteurhermit1533]

@@DBruce Check the below documentary that shows the the complex historic threads of Indian/Gypsy folk, the historical Indian origins of the Romani people who were natives from India captured and transferred mostly as slaves by the Islamic invaders who invaded India repeatedly starting early 12th century kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIqQqYSVedFoqtk

[@Adam-adyo]

​​@@raconteurhermit1533 Do you know that the guitar itself developed out of the Arabic Aud instrument? In Flamenco there are music like Zambra mora snd Zambra arab which is an Arabic moorish style beside the phrygian dominant scale. Which means the Arabic moorish influence is so obvious aside from the gitanos one. Flamenco has it's share from the indian rhythms as well. Flamenco art embodies a multifaceted cultural phenomenon that extends beyond a mere musical genre; it is a rich tapestry interwoven with the histories and emotions of various peoples. Originating from the intersection of Arabian, Moorish, Hebrew, and Gitano traditions, flamenco's complex lineage reflects the diverse influences that shaped its evolution. Within its rhythmic melodies and poignant lyrics, flamenco tells stories of resilience, defiance, and longing, serving as a medium for expression in the face of adversity. Born from the depths of sorrow and oppression, its emotive power resonates with audiences worldwide. The intricate dance movements, haunting melodies, and passionate vocals of flamenco convey a profound sense of cultural identity and heritage. Each element, from the intricate footwork to the soulful guitar strumming, contributes to the captivating allure of this art form. Through its fusion of artistic expressions, flamenco serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of its creators, transcending boundaries and connecting individuals across cultures and generations. It stands as a living testament to the human capacity for creativity, resilience, and storytelling.

[@raconteurhermit1533]

@@Adam-adyo While slavery existed much of its support was derived from Islam, Islamic invasions were so huge & brutal that scale of people enslaved from India created an entire race of people called Roma, started in Sindh 8th & 11thcentury Ghaznavid Invasions of India kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5CXhGeprd18bZo There is no musical tradition owing its roots in Islam, in fact its banned in Islam

[@AntarblueGarneau]

Most mentioned is that the "Gypsies" came from Rajasthan in India. One look at kathak dance the traditional classical dance of North India will leave you with the impression that Kathak and Flamenco are nearly the same except that Flamenco is performed with dance shoes. When I was a UCLA in the 1980s I knew two different women who were studying Flamenco and Kathak dance. See "Latcho Drom" The vocal delivery in Flamenco singing seems to embody Rajasthani singimg. The "Compa-s" (time cycles) in flamenco in 12 might be derived from Indian "Taal-s" in 12. One big feature of Indian "Taal" is points of primary and subsidiary stresses within the time cycle. The Phrygian scale and Phrygian dominant (Hijaz) are contained within the vast Raga and parent scale system. Using 2 different versions of a note are also a feature of Raga-s in their ascending and descending structures.

[@prakharrudra]

Couldn't have highlighted this connection better. Thanks

[@andsalomoni]

Listen to some pakistani Qawwali too, and you'll hear that it is very similar to Flamenco singing (handclapping included). By the way, the castanets derive from the "khartal" of Rajasthan.

[@blazingax05]

Exactly...ornamentation is also essential to carnatic and hindustani musical traditions

[@b_markovic]

It should be noted that vast majority of these musical features also exist in Arabic music and Turkish classical music (which the Roma definitely picked up on on their westward travels) and many have existed in all "old world music" since Hellenic times. It's also very likely that Hindustani music has heavily cross-pollinated with Hellenic music it bordered with long before the Roma were displaced from ancient Punjab region by Ghaznavid conquests, which explains the everpresence of heptatonic modes and many similarities between various Eurasian musical traditions.

[@josetgomez]

Here i send a link where the old Kathak is replicated by new flamenco form of dancing. The difference is the expresión of gentiles of Kathak and the powerful expresión of flamenco after of more then 1000 years of evolution through diferentes countries, cultures and the hard side of life: kzbin.info/www/bejne/faCadKujmt94qaM

[@captivatingcurios]

Came here from Nahre Sol's video on flamenco -- this is amazing I'll be checking out all of your videos!!

[@jamesphillips9724]

Isabel Bowman metoo fantastic

[@iAmCoded]

Same

[@wbrric001]

So did I. And it's wonderful. Thank you David and Nahre

[@arthurverlaine6434]

ᗺƎИ ⅃ƎVIИ

[@team_rex]

Me four!

[@thejimmydanly]

Vsauce - Michael Vsauce2 - Kevin Vsauce3 - Jake Vsauce4 - Adam Vsauce5 - David

[@Libbidybibbidy]

Flamenco is so beautiful and rich with emotion. I’m so happy it exists. Its creation is even more interesting.

[@ebrahimalfardan8823]

As an arab myself, I might add a few points here: 1. there are various types of Hijazi scales, some of them combine the minor 3 and a diminished 4 (practically the #2 and major 3, but I digress for now) which makes an entire scale called Hijazcar. In flamenco, however usually, the minor 3rd is either present as part of a plain phrygian or added on top of the phrygian dominant as an eighth note. 2. Unlike blues that resolves the minor 3 to major 3, the use of the minor 3 in hijaz and in andalusian cadence is not as a 3 but more like a #2 as in Jazz alt. Specifically, more often than not, it acts to ease the overly harsh passage from the major 3 when resolving down to the 1; you feel the tension deflates smoothly. 3. The arabic scale that corresponds to natural phrygian is kurd and not byat (which the same as phrygian but with a 1/2b 2nd instead of a full b2). 4. I wish you have touched on nuances of flamenco such as the use of a diminished tonic, alteration of the bII7 chord, substition with the V7 back to I7b2, use of II7 to I7 sequnces and use of dominant diminshed mode -- at least partially -- over every dominant chord. Maybe in future videos.

[@AliAhmed-ve5xl]

This dance looks just like the Indian khattak

[@Fillemexicaine36]

@@AliAhmed-ve5xl I am a Flamenco student and no, it does not look like the Indian Khattak!

[@evicoso]

Loved this episode. Could you do a similar one for Fado, the Portuguese traditional music? I always thought that the arabic influence is clear in the melismas, but I would love for you to give a foreign and theoretical look into it. Love your stuff, man. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@franciscorosa3845]

Emanuel Viçoso I am Portuguese too and this is a great idea. The bibliography of the history of fado is quite big (in both forms of fado, the fado from Coimbra and the fado from Lisbon).

[@alexandrekreismann]

An episode about Fado would be awesome!

[@pipipi682]

YEEEEESSS!!!! Would like to have such an issue, too!

[@flauschkatz]

@@franciscorosa3845I love Lusitanian music worldwide, astonishing that one can hear the heritage with so much water between these countries! But I did not realise that there are two distinct forms of Fado. Kind thanks for the pointer!

[@bicisnobombas]

Oooo yes please!

[@NeverBackMusic]

As Spanish and flamenco guitar player I would love to recommend you to listen to Niño Miguel, for me, the best flamenco guitar player ever (with Paco de Lucia of course). His compositions come direct from the heart. Listen to his two cd's if you have time. Best regards

[@deldia]

Never Back Music I’m only learning flamenco guitar but the best playing I’ve seen is Vicente Amigo’s playing he did for Córdoba tourist board. Search for it. It’s the one with number 2 in the title. Unbelievable.

[@RubenSerranoCHEK]

Paco es leyenda!

[@bmi1967]

Excellent video, very informative! After playing rock and blues guitar for more than 50 years I moved to Andalucia in January and started learning Flamenco guitar, man it's difficult but totally doable with lots of practice, I'm loving it! I'm also interested in the culture and the history so you ticked all the boxes with your video, brilliant! Muchas gracias! 🙏

[@TheManifoldCuriosity]

Fantastic video, thank you. Recently I was at a world music festival, and one of the most astounding acts was a collaboration between a Spanish flamenco group and a band of folk musicians from the deserts of Rajasthan, India. The idea of the collaboration was to see how the Spanish group, through the influence of the gypsies, mirrored the music of the Rajasthanis and vice versa. Neither group could communicate with one another, nor could they speak English. So with guitar and cajón on one side, harmonium, sarangi and tabla on the other, we witnessed these two musical cultures coming together - and it was pretty fluent! The melisma was a shared attribute of both styles.

[@carlotapuig]

I once heard a musicologist say that flamenco singing was similar to some singing style in India (unfortunately I forgot which part of India but I believed he said Punjab) rather than similar to Arab singing styles. I was curious if this video would clarify that.

[@hankwilliams5622]

Detest melismas.

[@Guilherme-nc5li]

Sounds awesome! Do you know their name ?

[@nathanielberman2765]

Excellent video. Consider talking about Klezmer music next. It seems like both styles have similar influences.

[@dentoncrimescene]

One of your best yet mate. Fastinating.

[@fude45]

Keep um up! you and Adam Neely are the best subscriptions I have on youtube right now hats off to you both

[@DBruce]

Thanks! Huge fan of Mr Neely here, one of my initial inspirations for joining KZbin. Slowly trying to find my own style (-:

[@bigogle]

I find Neely's style very fatiguing. Yours is more comfortable.

[@fude45]

Didn't really expect a reply thanks, I would say you have already found it just keep doing what you are doing it's great. Realise that asking for a video in my other comment may be a stretch, but I would be eternally grateful for any incite / links you could share with me that you think would point me in the right direction. Thanks for all the great videos!

[@medianode]

I agree. TBH it's encouraging to think about the future of content when you hear these two. I am drawn to consider that maybe, we do live finally in a meritocratic age? Although at the same time I worry that I better get off KZbin and churn out some mediocrity before I become obsolete.

[@elliottmanley5182]

@@bigogle that's Britain vs New York for you ;)

[@hongkongbeat2164]

I saw a concert by Ojos de Brujo a few years ago, that led me to listen to flamenco, which led me to chaabi, which led me to romani, which led me to klesma. With a side trip to zydeco and the blues. Fascinating to learn how the roots of flamenco has been leading me on a connected exploration of music

[@yaj126]

What a crazy coincidence, I just put my guitar down and was thinking about how whatever I write, I always seem to come back to that E to Am resolution. I was forced into flamenco lessons when I was about 8 and never enjoyed it at the time... 15 years later and I have this pretty strange taste in eclectic metal that could only have been influenced by my exposure to both Spanish and Gypsy styles of music thanks to my mum. In hindsight, I sort of miss being on that stage in my tap shoes and little red jacket. I guess it's been so long since I've listened to flamenco that I forgot just how much it resonates with me. Thanks for another insightful video David, you always present information and connections I'd probably never have made on my own :)

[@yaj126]

Oh and your animation of Melisma made me laugh more than it should have

[@DBruce]

Thanks, it's so amazing to hear different stories and angles that my viewers have, from all over the world. It's such a thrill to be connected with people who have so many different experiences.

[@REALsandwitchlotter]

Excellent, many thanks. More like this, please!

[@vinnieRice]

Fantastic. More of this please Bruce!

[@Nitsuga90]

Love this! Thanks!

[@flyingpotato7999]

this is great man, thnx!

[@James-wf8nu]

Great content and production value as always!

[@AXPena]

So cool to see some flamenco content that is so detailed in its explanation!

[@alexbougiemusic]

Wonderful, thoughtful content. Thank you, Bruce.

[@yavuzates9398]

I loved this video, David. The amount of research you do is exceptionally impressive.

[@kabeersingh8411]

This was brilliant!

[@composer7325]

Beautiful.Thank you for this upload.

[@filippobonaventura8801]

Loved this one. Keep up the great work! Cheers

[@donmigueldecuenca]

So glad I stumbled on David Bruce! This is fascinating, thanks.

[@tremortwins]

👏👏👏👏👏👏 Loved this episode!! Well done!!

[@davyydsummers]

Thank you for taking the time to make this. I really enjoyed the inclusion of both of history and theory.

[@jppagetoo]

Yes! Love this stuff. Understanding the traditions and styles of music I don't play is a big help. It helps me appeciate the art of the other styles outside my usual listening (and playing) repertoir. Learning about a wider musical landscape helps me play things that I would not have otherwise.

[@YunaPalinaMyoen]

this is amaaazing, thank you!

[@teteraf]

Excelent!!! Thanks a lot, Bruce for this summary.

[@markwagoner]

Nice , thanks, David!

[@benjamindhall]

Thanks for this!

[@itznama]

I'm new to your channel but I already love it. I'm not a musician, but you make it really easy to understand.

[@KarnKaul]

Very nicely prepared and presented! This is one of my favourite videos on KZbin now!

[@anton8064]

fantastic video. Very interesting topic.

[@felipealonso8409]

As a Flamenco musician. This video is right on! Amazing academic description. Congrats!!

[@Aquificae]

Please, as a brazilian, do one for Baião, a typical style from Northeast Brazil. I've always noticed some similarities to eastern music and I'd love to know if they're real or not! Feira de Mangaio is a good example of how it sounds. Love your channel!

[@highvibee]

Sooo well done! Thanks 🙏

[@DonCYHaute]

Great to have a little crash course on a genre like this to expand repertoire. Looking forward to more!

[@honeycombfromheaven]

Loved that demonstration of melismatic singing! Really cool video, well done.

[@momamusic3959]

Very compact, informing and thoughtfull video. Thank you for this!

[@prototypeinheritance515]

i like that you actually go cover the topic with a surprising depth

[@CWBella]

Excellent! I so appreciate videos that get to the point, relaying the essential info in a succinct way. I will be coming back several times to listen to and play along with this video in the days to come.

[@TomD67]

Excellent video -- Thanks for these clear explanations and illustrations!

[@CurtisThorpe]

What a lovely journey. Your videos are equally entertaining and informative.

[@marinoscarpa895]

Great video David

[@sunrootbcbambooandcrystals]

Loved this overview, David!!! Thanks!!!

[@javiermondii]

Greetings from an andalusian sub.

[@jeffreyzmusic]

Great vid! Very interesting. Learned lots

[@aurorasoulshine]

AMAZING Video! Thank you so much!!!

[@carloscoba8209]

this was AWESOME THANK YOU. Gracias por tu analisis

[@shinanbarclay67]

Love this, adds depth to learning flamenco. Thank you

[@fredlamycernvm]

Excellent analysis/documentary!

[@elliot14]

Loved this video! would love some more deep dives into genres!1

[@flashmanfred]

Would love to see some more videos like this!

[@SolarMumuns]

Excellent video. Full of fascinating information & well-crafted. Thanks

[@rogertebb1997]

I really enjoyed this enquiry into the roots of flamenco. So fascinating to see the diverse influences, especially the migration of various peoples.

[@matteociroldi4034]

Awesome video!

[@highmanwich5413]

Wow! What a great video. Easily some of the most entertaining, informational, and well made videos on the internet.

[@notebender4]

I just heard about your channel the other day and the referring party did not lead me astray, this is good stuff it is not only informative but the way you put it together kept my interest without hesitation...Thank you so much

[@spacebiggles]

Very interesting! I liked the combination of both history and detailed musical ideas.

[@himatgami6798]

Thank you for this wonderful video!

[@sprkymrt]

Great ! Enjoyed learning about the history, the music, and the history of the music.I checked down the comments and you picked up quite a few thumbs up.

[@Sevetamryn]

Thanks a lot for this video!

[@jonascarrillo8699]

i haven´t found many videos on music history so I´d be glad you making more of these. :) Thanks for this one.

[@stefan1024]

Wow! You're on fire lately!

[@diegoparra8178]

Fantastic explanation, congrats from Spain!

[@Deankau]

subscribed, I personally would love more videos on music history, fascinating stuff

[@RolandHuettmann]

This is a great introduction to the basics of Flamenco. Thank you.

[@meddiefrercury828]

Fantastic video. I've never learned much about music history, but this is really interesting! Just subscribed

[@evezina96]

A really cool analysis. Musical history is such an under-discussed topic here on KZbin. Glad you're tackling it!

[@EldadTarmu]

This is very clear, engaging, and concise. It can be useful for classroom situations

[@paulwiesenborn8153]

Absolutely brilliant. Makes me want to watch this as many times as it will take me to understand it in all its fascinating detail. More historical videos if you're able!

[@juliecartermusic174]

Knowledge, particularly about the things we love, is so empowering! Thank you David.

[@bernarddaigle2830]

Once again, very insightful.

[@Johnstone565]

Great video, thank you ❤

[@carlosgomez2305]

What an amazing video! I really liked it

[@sltomsik]

Well done, very helpful.

[@Marcelrocha884]

Great video! Very important and not so often enough addressed subject! Thank you, you're doing an amazing work by touching on things that are with us every time and everywhere but nobody dares to talk about!

[@Dave-nm8uk]

Very good and informative video. Thank you.

[@TheGambaGeek]

Wonderful! I wish I had seen this before playing in a flamenco concert, it would have helped me a lot. Great content!

[@martinpaddle]

yes! very insightful, as usual. this is one of my favourite genres of music, ever since I got a guitar in Granada while on holiday there as a child...

[@7Volkan6]

Amazing informative video. Subbed!

[@brendanmcgrane1577]

Well researched video. Subbed.

[@georgbarnert4054]

Super Video! Very well done!

[@billyruss]

I've been following your channel for 18 months or so but this must have been just before I subscribed, because I hadn't seen it until now. Fascinating, and, at the same time, containing so many ideas that are familiar to me - I'm not a flamenco aficionado as such, but have long been fascinated by how it pulls together the various influences you describe.

[@vtjo]

wonderful video, thank you for this class

[@hosamsaedaldeen]

Thank you so much for this video, I hope to see more and more.

[@John-oy1us]

Fascinating history and the content is well made. Thanks for sharing.

[@JohnDoe-dh8xc]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I would like to see more of this type of thing done with other styles of music

[@veot.2869]

Been listening to flamenco for decades. It was always a beautiful music!!!

[@stephengregory7838]

Fantastic video! I'd love to see you dissect more genres in this fashion.

[@martineslava8642]

I loved this video. Great to explore the roots of this iconic music (along with Sevillanas) and the allure of Iberian folk music in general. Thank you!

[@drumbird]

This was both inspiring and informative. If you ever find the time, I would love to see your take on Argentine Flamenco. There's a lot of strange crossover happening in Argentine music in general that is fascinating and shares N. African influence, like from the chaabi, as well.

[@Jedmanuel91]

This video is amazing!

[@cherrycokesling]

Astonishing, learning how to *hear* different cultures coalesce. Thank you.

[@erichstocker4173]

Loved the music theory done in an ethnic building way that constructs flamenco. Thanks for you efforts in undertaking this. I learned a lot. Even bookmarked it so I can come back and view it again as I'm absolutely sure that I will learn more each time I view.