Musical Culture in the South of Spain

Jan 17
19:13

2010

Milton Johns

Milton Johns

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Southern Spain has a great musical culture that anyone on a trip to the area should be sure to experience. There are many parts of it to see so make sure to take the time to look. This article will point out some of the highlights.

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The south of Spain is home to an exiting and significant musical culture that helps define the general feel of the area. Several different styles of music make this region their native home,Musical Culture in the South of Spain Articles and visitors from around the world take pleasure experiencing them in authentic form. From flamenco music to classical guitar, southern Spain has a vibrant musical culture that should excite any music lover.

One of the most well known aspects of music in the south of Spain is the flamenco style. In Granada, you can experience flamenco concerts in the gypsy caves of the older part of town. These performances include a small band and a few dancers who fill the cave with lively action and music. Some of the performers will serve Spanish wine during the concert for an all around cultural experience. Most free music reviews that you read concerning these events are very positive.

The flamenco caves are a great spectacle in Granada, but perhaps even more famous and celebrated are the many master guitar makers in the city. The best flamenco guitarists will get their instruments from these hand builders of guitars. Their shops are located all throughout the smaller streets of Granada, and you should be able to stop in and see them at work.

For those who do not have thousands of dollars to spend on a hand built instrument, there are also factory built guitars that are higher quality than most of what can be found elsewhere. These instruments will have a reasonable price and could make a great souvenir from a visit to the area, just make sure to ask if the model you are interested was actually made in Spain because some of the cheaper ones might be imported.

The guitar in general is a very big part of the musical culture in the south of Spain. You may come across street side concerts while walking through the cities, and these performers will be no slouches. The basic style of guitar playing is usually somewhere between classical and flamenco, with elements of jazz as well. Most players employ impressive hand technique to get the rhythmic and rapid harmonies and melodies.

Besides all of the guitar playing you will experience in the region, there is also a good appreciation for classical music. In the Alhambra in Granada, they sometimes host impressive orchestra concerts in the later Christian parts of the fortress. This magnificent scenery makes for a very inspiring atmosphere and the acoustics are very nice as well.

The younger population in southern Spain is more interested in Spanish pop and dance music, and there are many clubs that allow for some late night partying in most of the major cities. This scene may be even more evident in some of the more northern cities such as Madrid and Barcelona.

Spain has a very original and musical culture, and anyone on a southern Spain vacation should gain a good sense of this fact, but make sure that you take the time to hear all of the distinct sounds of the country. Music has been an important part of human life for longer than most people realize, and one of the best ways to get to know a culture is to experience its music and art.