Origins

Flamenco’s origins come from a mixture of many cultures, the most important being Muslim, Jewish, Indo-Pakistani, and Byzantine.

Many flamencologos (Flamenco historians) believe that Flamenco as we know it today did not develop until the sixteenth century, when the kingdom of Castilla decided to rid Spain of minority groups in an effort to propagate pureness of race and religion. All Jews and Muslims that refused to convert to Christianity were expelled from the country and all gypsies who would not leave the open road and settle down were expelled as well. As a consequence, these three persecuted cultures, with very little in common, found themselves united against a common foe. It is probable that from the common life of these persecuted peoples that the first semblances of Flamenco as we know it began. Muslim, Jewish, Indian, and Christian religious and folk music blended, developing over the years into a musical form all its own.

Many historians believe the word “Flamenco” is a mispronunciation of the Arabic words “felag” and “mengun” which means fugitive peasants. It is likely that this term was borrowed from the Arabs (which was the common language in Andalusia at that time) and applied to all persecuted people who fled to the mountains. Through usage in Spanish, “felagmengu” was transformed into “Flamenco” until the term Flamenco was adopted by the fugitives themselves and in turn applied to their music. The main form at that time, was the “cante jondo” which expressed the suffering of these outlawed oppressed people, who through the years were condemned to serve in the galleys, in chain gangs, and in the Spanish army. They were prohibited to speak their own languages and many were killed. Somehow their spirit remained unbroken, and their mode of expression—their Flamenco—developed to magnificent heights throughout the centuries, culminating in the Café Cantante period of the last century.