🚀 go-pugleaf

At 09:07 27/12/98 EST, you wrote:
>Hello Javier,
>          I have a question about the flamenco and fandango dances.  Are
>Gypsies the source of the flamenco and fandango or the Basques?  Are the
>Basque people associated with any special dance?  The fandango was banned in
>New Mexico until recently, so it may be associated with early Basque
>colonists.  Too much hip motion for the Anglos back in the 1800's.  Thanks.
>David O'Keefe
>Houston, Texas
>

Ed's answer:

You already got a reply about the Basque version.  I don't know about that.
Here is a summary of what I read about the 'Gypsy flamenco' (fandango is
just a sub-category) and the Gypsies over the years:
The Gypsies, called that way because some thought they came from E-Gypt,
have their ethnic and racial roots in northern India/Pakistan and
surroundings (contrarily to what the Nazis thought, they are the only
Aryans in Europe, in the original meaning of the term). They were enslaved
by the Turkic nomads during their migration/conquests (basically from
Mohammed's days till the fall of Constantinople/Istambul in the 15th
century) from the Altaï mountains (at the crossroads of China, Mongolia and
Kazakhstan) to the Balkans, the Pannonian plain (Hungary) and present-day
Turkey (Anatolia), and left to their own fate when the Turks were beaten
back by the Western nations (reference: the siege of Vienna). Some Gypsy
languages still survive: they are related to Indo-Iranian, i.e. eastern IE.
 Like the Jews, they were denied integration in European societies, so they
became nomads and had to do odd jobs in order  sustain themselves. They had
two favorite occupations: music and tinkering, often only one per clan (In
Romania the musician clans are called 'lautari' = luthers).  From Central
Europe, they slowly drifted through southern Germany to France, and in
France to the Provence (where they they flock every year as pilgrims to
Saintes-Maries-de- la-Mer) and along the Mediterranean coast to southern
Spain. A non-negligible number ended up in Macedonia, directly from Romania
and Bulgaria.
Like all traveling musicians, they played the music their public liked
most. That explains why e.g Hungarian or Romanian Gypsy music is so
different from Andalusian Gypsy music. Of course, they also left their on
mark on the performance.  In Central Europe, the relationship with local
music styles is rather obvious. In Spain, this is not so. I guess the
explanation might be as follows:

Non-Gypsy Spanish musical folklore has a very complex origin: Outside
Andalusia, and probably the Basque Country, medieval and present-day folk
music seems to have its roots (at least as far as melody is concerned)
north of the Pyrenees, probably under Visigothic, Celtic etc. influence.
Mainly in Andalusia, there was some Arab influence; however, more recently,
this is seriously disputed except for a very limited number of Flamenco
styles, and not the most common ones. An original Gypsy influence (i.e.
from 'India') is thought more likely, but actually, no one knows.
Whence my guess: Andalusian Gypsy Flamenco might be based upon a defunct
Iberian-Tartessic music style (which itself may have had Berber and/or
Phoenician elements in it) which lived on long after the rest of Spain
(maybe minus the BC) had been acculturated by European invasions. Of course
with some original Gypsy style contributions, like in the long-drawn vocal
soloes with embellishments, which still exist in some of today's Indian
singing styles. Unfortunately, we know virtually nothing about
Iberian-Tartessic music, even less than about ancient Greek or Roman music.
The only (probably) non-Gypsy style with similar characteristics is the
heart-piercing 'saeta' (one shrill voice only, no instruments), sung during
the processions of the Semana Santa, mainly in the deep south.         P.S.
This is a very nice theory since it is unverifiable by definition!;-)

To cause even more confusion: Arab culture after Mohammed owes very, very
much to Persian and Indian culture, i.e. the same origin as that of the
Gypsies.  E.g. the 'Arab' decimal numbering sytem, almost all architecture,
and the luth/guitar (e.g. the Arab 'al-ud') and the violin.

A final remark: Even the origin of the name 'Flamenco' is still obscure:
some decades ago, it was suggested that it had something to do with the
Flemings (Flamencos) at the court of Carlos V that had come with him from
Flanders.  According to that theory, they had a very extravagant life
style, and were known for their loud and irregular behavior as drunks and
party animals, characteristics atributed to gypsy music by the sober
Castilians before it became fashionable in the early 20th century.  Even
though, as a Fleming, I must admit that people around here love wining and
dining, they are remarkably quiet people who find Spain an extremely noisy
place - but who cares during a vacation?


Eduard Selleslagh
B-9120          Haasdonk (Beveren)
Belgium
Phone: +32-3-775.69.69  E-Mail: edsel@online.be, edsel@glo.be
Fax:     +32-3-755.39.20