17 Spanish Music Facts: Art Of Arranging Sounds In A Pleasant Way!

Music is an important part of our lives; it is a part of almost every circle of our lives.

Music is a perfect medium for those who have a curiosity about other cultures in the world. Spanish music similarly says a lot about the culture of Spain.

Remember the big hit of 2017-2018, 'Despacito'? It was a Latin song that became one of the biggest hits of the year, and its catchy tunes are loved by many still now.

Food and music in Spain have very high positions. From Spanish pop music to folk music, some instruments have been played through generations to give the essence of traditional styles in their music.

Spanish music is one of the most streamed genres in the world. Musical innovation of the composers and its application to different genres has resulted in different types of Latin music, of which Spanish music makes up a big part.

Despite so many genres of world music like pop, hip hop, opera, and jazz, it is very easy to identify that a song is a Spanish song by just listening to it.

If you are interested in more such content, then keep on reading the articles on Spain economy facts and facts about Spain too.

Spanish Music Archives

Many Spanish archives house some of the greatest collections of Spanish music. These remarkable archives are unique sources related to Latin music.

'2 Pan Man' by Another Brick is a song from the Avant la Lettre album. The genres of this iconic song are jazz, electronic, and lo-fi.

'Cordoba' by Nesh Carrot is easy listening and chill-out song. It is from the album M-MIX.

'Daliniana Flor', 'Big Apple Little Worm', and '22/4' by Pau Riba are three songs from the Spanish archives. All these songs are from the folk genre.

The track 'Solemn Bosa' by De Yan-Key is a song from the Latin archives. The song belongs to the album Yuletide and is of the international genre.

'West Side' is another Latin song of archival value. The song was sung by Serge Quadrado.

Instruments In Spanish Music

Certain Spanish musical styles have the use of certain musical instruments that are limited to Spanish music only. Some popular music instruments that are commonly played in Spanish music are guitars, castanets, cajon, bongos, and more. Spanish music has intermingled with different cultures to create its unique identity.

A flamenco guitar is very similar to a classical guitar. Nylon strings are used in a flamenco guitar instead of steel strings. A flamenco guitar is played by the plucking method instead of strumming like a normal guitar. The strings are plucked using the first and second fingers.

One of the most popular percussion instruments, the cajon, is Spanish for box drum. You will find the use of the Cajon among Spanish musicians in several Spanish colonies in Latin America. Players play the instrument by sitting on it. It is a staple instrument in flamenco and other popular Spanish music forms.

Many people are accustomed to bongos, but what they don't know is that the bongos are actually of Afro-Cuban origin. You can hear the bongos in many Spanish genres. The two bongo drums produce different music. It can be heard in salsa.

Castanets are traditional instruments that are used in classical music or folk music. They are played by wearing them on the fingers of each hand.

The accordion is a very old instrument that was introduced in 1829. The accordion is not the most common instrument in other genres, but its presence in Spanish music is certainly common.

The Gaita Gastorena is a wind instrument that originated in El Gastor. The instrument was played by young people at the end of November and December, and after Christmas ended, people would store the Gastorena for next November.

Famous Musicians Of Spanish Music

The country of Spain has had a rich history in music and dance since 100 AD. Consequently, Spain is the birth land of some of the greatest music artists in history.

Spanish artists are the perfect cultural conduit for people who want to learn about their culture. The diversity that Spanish music represents is a homage to the cultures that the genre of music has borrowed from.

One of the most famous musicians in Spain was Julio Iglesias. He sold more records in multiple languages than any other singer in the history of Latin or Spanish music and broke all records.

Some of the most well-known flamenco performers in Spain are Manuel de Falla, Joaquin Rodrigo, and Andrés Segovia. Francisco Tarrega is a well-known figure in Spain for his contributions to classical guitar music.

Some evergreen singers who trace their roots to Latin music in some way or the other are Joaquin Sabina, Ricky Martin, Lola Flores, Shakira, and Marc Anthony. Their music has crossed borders and become famous all over the world.

Styles Of Spanish Music

During the Renaissance and Baroque periods of the 16th century, a music style in Spain developed that was similar to that of the composers of the Franco-Flemish. These two styles were merged to produce a popular style of music in Spain that was characterized by a polyphonic vocal nature.

Traditional music was in decline by the 17th century in Spain. Another popular but short-lived musical genre in Spain during medieval times was romantic sinfonism. Juan Crisostomo Arriaga was believed to be a beginner in this music genre.

The music from the Basque country, known as Basque music, is based on the accordion and tambourine. The famous song composer, Eliseo Perra, was known for recording traditional folk music from the Basque Country and Castille. The genre of Asturian music is considered to be one of Spain's Celtic music communities' contributions.

This type of music is performed in traditional groups and features music and dance using mainly tambourine rhythms. Local composers worked on opera, vocal dialects, and chamber music during the 18th and 20th centuries.

Spain is also a land of many festivals that feature religious music and Christian songs. These songs had a deep influence on the Christian era and Roman culture for several centuries. Some early music from the sixth century gives the earliest details of the Christian church in Spain.

At present, Latin pop music is the most popular genre in Spain. The earliest Spanish pop was an imitation of French pop, which was, in turn, imitating American and British pop at the time.

Popular artists such as Shakira, Jenifer Lopez, and Enrique Iglesias have been seen mixing Spanish and Latin styles with English music to create songs that have made them widely successful.

Flamenco is probably the most famous musical and dance style in Spain. Flamenco features colorful music and dance galas, but it can also be performed without dance. Andalusia is known for flamenco music.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Spanish music facts then why not take a look at Spain food facts, or Spain flag facts.