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Anthony Arizaga - Master Guitarist
Spanish,
Flamenco, and classical
guitar Maestro Anthony Arizaga provides sensational
Flamenco
guitar performances, Spanish guitar performances and guitar
instruction for all levels and styles. |
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 Flamenco
Flamenco originated in southern Spain, in the region known
as Andalucia. It was born as a result of the blending of
diverse cultures, which include conquering races such as
the Romans and the Moors, and wandering peoples such as
the Jews, and the Gypsy (originally from India). The most
significant cultural influence was the settlement of the
Gypsies in the southern region of Spain during the 15th
century. Their settlement coincided with the expulsion of
the three above mentioned cultures by King Ferdinand and
Queen Isabella in 1492, the same year Columbus set out for
the new world. Flamenco developed over a background of
great racial tension. Felix Grande once said, "if we do
not relate the music...to brutality, repression, hunger,
fear, menace, inferiority, resistance and secrecy, then we
shall not find the reality of Flamenco".
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 Though
Flamenco is finding life outside its native environment,
it is still the time honored art of Andalucia. Flamenco is
a culture in itself abiding by its own philosophy and
lifestyle. In the Flamenco culture, music is the main
source of expression.
Flamenco began as a style of singing, known as Cante
Flamenco. The relatively recent development of solo
Flamenco guitar (early 1900's) has opened up a whole new
realm in this form of guitar playing. It shows a
separation of the old traditional ways of playing to
enhance, or enrich a cante style vocalist, which in turn
has changed the way a guitarist now supports a Cantador.
The earliest written record we have of Cante Flamenco
speaks of Tito Luis el de la Juliana, a singer who lived
around the 1780's. In essence, Flamenco is compiled of
many singing configurations, each revealing its own mood,
and striking the chords of humanistic emotional realism.
The environment in which the ancient Andalucian singer
lived caused him to believe that he should dwell on the
negative conditions of his being, and though there has
been great change in conditions, the feelings created in
the cante are universal and immortal and preserve a link
between past and present.
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 These
various types of cante are the foundation for all Flamenco
guitar playing. Almost all cante has a set rhythmic structure
that any true Flamenco player must know and follow called the
compas. One of the most important aspects of Flamenco is the
complex syncopation against the compas, with the cante
vocalized almost completely off beat, while the guitarist
continues the set rhythm, furthering the syncopation.
Occasionally, in cantes libres (rhythmically free songs), the
compass is less pronounced, the singer might begin to create a
set rhythm which the guitarist then must follow. The singer
may improvise, no matter if the guitar playing is free, or set
in compas, the guitarist at times may have no clues of where
he is expected to go next.
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 Although there is no evidence that it was initially used to
accompany the cante, the guitar became
regularly used by the end of the 19th century. During this
period there were two styles of singing in Andalucia, the
cante gitano of the Gypsies and the cante andaluz - the folk
music of the indigenous Andalucian people. Silverio
Franconetti, an Andaluz of Italian origin and a distinguished
singer of gypsy styles, came to the conclusion that the two
could be fused together and thus, created Cante Flamenco as it
is today. The gypsies were more interpreters of neighboring
cultural art forms than creators. Franconetti's version of the
gypsy song was an evolved state of the Andalucian song over
several centuries. He basically took the two and created a
style which reflects Andalucia's centuries old influences.
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 Flamenco
developed rather quickly, increasing in popularity, as well
as, artistic stature. Coffee theaters known as cafes cantantes,
opened all over, allowing the enjoyment of refreshments to be
enhanced while experiencing Flamenco. Prosperity was now in
reach of many Flamenco artists through the tourist boom in
Spain in the early 1900's. Competition among guitarists in the
cafes was fierce. Guitarists tried to achieve more recognition
for their art which until then, was thought of merely as
accompaniment for singers and dancers. These were the
circumstances that spawned the "modern" Solo Flamenco Guitar.
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 Anthony's CD's For An Amazing Listening
Experience
Hear the powerful guitar performances on CD over and over
again as your spirit soars to the exhilarating and magical
Spanish and Flamenco style that only a true Maestro could
perform! There are 15 great CD's to choose from or purchase
the entire collection! Each CD contains a variety of songs
that are sure to leave you breathless! Sample soundtracks
available prior to purchase.
Click here to view the entire collection .....
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