I chose musical instruments for my topic because Spain has a large variety of musical influences. I was interested in learning about the different autonomies and their unique musical styles and influences. Before this class, I knew of flamenco music and Spain being the origin of classical guitar....and that was about it. As we learned about the culture before our trip, it was interesting to find that the northern and southern regions had their own unique styles. While flamenco was predominant in the southern areas of Spain, the northern regions (especially in Galicia) have many Celtic and Gaelic influences. My personal favorite of the music we explored was the really 90s music video....trust me you guys know which one...
In my research, I found that the many types of invaders that entered Spain are part of the reason it is so diverse with it's music. The Romans , Catholics, Visigoths, Germanic tribes, Moors, Jews....seriously who hasn't invaded Spain? This adds up to about 2,000 years of internal and external influences which created the variety we see today. This also included the instruments that were created throughout this 2,000 years. Each of the regions has different types of instruments that are unique to them. I wanted to note that in the cathedrals, every single one had some kind of organ, but very few had a piano (that ancient Casio from that one church doesn't count). One of the most memorable things was the parade in Barcelona. Though it was very brief, I enjoyed the glimpse into their musical culture. Everyone wore authentic historic outfits and played traditional instruments. There were wind instruments, drums, and even bagpipes. The bagpipes can be accredited to Celtic and Gaelic influences. The Galician word for bagpipe instruments is gaita. I have a soft spot for Celtic music, and it makes me very excited to hear something close to my Irish heritage even when I'm so far from home.
Amongst some of my friends, it was decided that if I were an instrument, I would be the bagpipes. As strange as that may seem, it is an instrument I have always been interested by and would love to learn to play. Though a tad unusual (and maybe a little loud), it is the perfect quirky instrument for me.
I also enjoyed the flamenco show from the last night we were in Madrid. The intricate rhythms clapped and snapped by the dancers coupled nicely with the stomping and tapping of their skilled footwork. It seemed unusual that the flamenco dancers did not utilize castanets like we had seen in the videos from class and from the information in the book. The dancers skill and the two guitarists musical improv more than made up for that minor shortcoming. It made for a show that was hard to look away from, even for that tasty chocolate cake dessert! That show was a great ending to such a phenomenal trip.
I will admit I chose a rather tough topic. The instruments of Spain were not something we saw very much of. The only music store I found the whole trip was closed so I couldn't even ask them about anything. I feel a bit sad that I couldn't find more of the instruments firsthand to share with everyone. I loved this trip so much and it was such a great way to take in so much unique culture and lifestyle.
This is your opportunity to share your experiences and observations about Spanish culture and discover the ones of your fellow classmates. Enjoy the experience!