100 years ago in 1922, two nights under the spotlight in the Plaza de los Alijibes changed Flamenco culture forever. Musicians, artists, and guests dressed in vibrant colors, eagerly anticipated a revolutionary event organized by the composer Manuel de Falla.
All the guests knew that this showcase was unlike anything ever seen before, and it was clear that the legendary composer, Falla, was about to enlighten the people. This particular showcase featured performers who practiced ancient art forms and uplifted the endangered Spanish culture of the Roma people.
Manuel de Falla had one goal in mind: to elevate canto jondo (deep song), a passionate and raw form of flamenco, into a recognized art form. At the time, canto jondo was only practiced by the Roma people, and Falla was determined to showcase the ancient art form of a unique people.
Falla and his group of close friends were also concerned that the music was losing its original essence. According to Falla, if he didn’t do anything to protect the music, many of its original palos (musical forms) would inevitably become extinct. Determined, he set out to revitalize Spain’s deep musical and cultural history.
Falla split his event into two nights, showcasing artists who were invited to exhibit their talent. However, only amateur singers performing original canto jondo were eligible for the competition portion of the event. Thanks to advertising efforts, word spread far and wide about Falla’s original showcase. The most important task was making sure that rural artists from marginalized Roma towns could showcase their original culture. Falla and his partner Lorca invested their time searching for flamenco in its purest form, identifying possible performers who knew the old endangered palos.
Falla’s cultural revitalization was a huge success. Over 4,000 people were packed at the plaza, anticipating the musical extravaganza that would bring back Spanish culture. There were many memorable performances that night that gave recognition to canto jondo. Diego Bermúdez, an old man who limped onto the stage, allegedly walked 62 miles from his home in Puente Genil to attend the concert. Despite his physical condition and punctured lung, he shook the audience with his own rendition of a caña (ancient religious song) in a youthful voice. An old blind roma woman who had only been discovered by Lorca days before the show took to the stage and sang a solo liviana, an ancient music style long thought to be extinct. Today, Spain recognizes the 100th anniversary of the rediscovery of original flamenco, and Manuel de Falla is considered a Spanish hero and an icon for his work.
source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gVmTPfyqHoZtEyQAfs3Ogy5uR8BzlWnB/view?usp=drivesdk
All the guests knew that this showcase was unlike anything ever seen before, and it was clear that the legendary composer, Falla, was about to enlighten the people. This particular showcase featured performers who practiced ancient art forms and uplifted the endangered Spanish culture of the Roma people.
Manuel de Falla had one goal in mind: to elevate canto jondo (deep song), a passionate and raw form of flamenco, into a recognized art form. At the time, canto jondo was only practiced by the Roma people, and Falla was determined to showcase the ancient art form of a unique people.
Falla and his group of close friends were also concerned that the music was losing its original essence. According to Falla, if he didn’t do anything to protect the music, many of its original palos (musical forms) would inevitably become extinct. Determined, he set out to revitalize Spain’s deep musical and cultural history.
Falla split his event into two nights, showcasing artists who were invited to exhibit their talent. However, only amateur singers performing original canto jondo were eligible for the competition portion of the event. Thanks to advertising efforts, word spread far and wide about Falla’s original showcase. The most important task was making sure that rural artists from marginalized Roma towns could showcase their original culture. Falla and his partner Lorca invested their time searching for flamenco in its purest form, identifying possible performers who knew the old endangered palos.
Falla’s cultural revitalization was a huge success. Over 4,000 people were packed at the plaza, anticipating the musical extravaganza that would bring back Spanish culture. There were many memorable performances that night that gave recognition to canto jondo. Diego Bermúdez, an old man who limped onto the stage, allegedly walked 62 miles from his home in Puente Genil to attend the concert. Despite his physical condition and punctured lung, he shook the audience with his own rendition of a caña (ancient religious song) in a youthful voice. An old blind roma woman who had only been discovered by Lorca days before the show took to the stage and sang a solo liviana, an ancient music style long thought to be extinct. Today, Spain recognizes the 100th anniversary of the rediscovery of original flamenco, and Manuel de Falla is considered a Spanish hero and an icon for his work.
source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gVmTPfyqHoZtEyQAfs3Ogy5uR8BzlWnB/view?usp=drivesdk
