International » Western European Traditions » Flamenco

Neither the origin nor an exact description of Flamenco music is known. It may have come to Spain through the immigrants from Flanders, or it may have received its "gypsy" connotation from these people as they wandered through the country of Spain. Flamenco may even have developed from one of the Andalusian classic forms of music. The cante hondo are directly related to the cante flamenco, and the latter may be considered the general rubric of classification. When people hear this form of music, they immediately recognize it as flamenco. It has a definitive rhythm in its vocal, dance, and instrumental forms. Guitar and clapping, as well as the playing of castanets, often accompany a singer, dancer, or both. Melodically it is both diatonic and modal in its use of Phrygian and Dorian modes.