The Spirit of Flamenco
Flamenco song, music and dance every Friday and Saturday from 6:30p.m. - 9:30p.m.… The Spirit of Flamenco performs intense and passionate flamenco that developed in the region of Andalusia in southern Spain. This is a musical tradition with stories of love, death, suffering, poverty, and persecution—all experiences endured by the Gypsies, the first flamenco artists.
Flamenco song, music and dance every Friday and Saturday from 6:30p.m. - 9:30p.m.… The Spirit of Flamenco performs intense and passionate flamenco that developed in the region of Andalusia in southern Spain. This is a musical tradition with stories of love, death, suffering, poverty, and persecution—all experiences endured by the Gypsies, the first flamenco artists.
About the Group
José María Roldán, “Pepe de Sevilla”
José María Roldán, “Pepe de Sevilla” was born in Seville, Spain. Pepe was first introduced to flamenco at a very young age during his baptismal celebration in Seville where the singer “Niño de Jerez” sang among others. “Niño de Jerez” later known as “Manuel Torre” was one of the greatest flamenco singers of all time. Pepe arrived in Mexico City in 1949 where he sang at “La Gran Tasca”, “El Colmao”, “La Bodega”, “Rincón de Goya”, “Venta de los Titeres”, “Rio Rosa” and “Plaza de Toros”. He traveled throughout Mexico on tour with his Flamenco group “Los Majaretas de Triana” and in Ciudad Juarez was contracted for 4 years at the famous restaurant-bar “El Alcazar” where he was accompanied by great guitarists such as: Roberto Rojas Barrales, Manolo Parra, Gustavo Reza “El Buzo”. From 1957 to 1971 Pepe owned the famous “Bar Sevilla” in El Paso, Texas, which was the meeting place of many great intellectuals and Flamencos of the time including: Agustín Castellón “Sabicas”, Antonio Triana, Luisa Triana, Maestro Manolo Matos, Miguel Galvez “El Niño de las Cabezas”, Juan Perrín, bullfighter John Fulton Short, Nobel Prize winner Pearl Buck and Flamenco Dance Company of Jimenez-Vargas to name a few. Pepe is currently being accompanied by his son-Flamenco Guitarist José María Roldán, III. Pepe recently relocated to the Austin area with his son and family.
José María Roldán, “Pepe de Sevilla”
José María Roldán, “Pepe de Sevilla” was born in Seville, Spain. Pepe was first introduced to flamenco at a very young age during his baptismal celebration in Seville where the singer “Niño de Jerez” sang among others. “Niño de Jerez” later known as “Manuel Torre” was one of the greatest flamenco singers of all time. Pepe arrived in Mexico City in 1949 where he sang at “La Gran Tasca”, “El Colmao”, “La Bodega”, “Rincón de Goya”, “Venta de los Titeres”, “Rio Rosa” and “Plaza de Toros”. He traveled throughout Mexico on tour with his Flamenco group “Los Majaretas de Triana” and in Ciudad Juarez was contracted for 4 years at the famous restaurant-bar “El Alcazar” where he was accompanied by great guitarists such as: Roberto Rojas Barrales, Manolo Parra, Gustavo Reza “El Buzo”. From 1957 to 1971 Pepe owned the famous “Bar Sevilla” in El Paso, Texas, which was the meeting place of many great intellectuals and Flamencos of the time including: Agustín Castellón “Sabicas”, Antonio Triana, Luisa Triana, Maestro Manolo Matos, Miguel Galvez “El Niño de las Cabezas”, Juan Perrín, bullfighter John Fulton Short, Nobel Prize winner Pearl Buck and Flamenco Dance Company of Jimenez-Vargas to name a few. Pepe is currently being accompanied by his son-Flamenco Guitarist José María Roldán, III. Pepe recently relocated to the Austin area with his son and family.
José María Roldán, IIIJosé María was born in El Paso, Texas. Flamenco has been an integral part of his life since his early childhood, especially during the years he lived in Seville Spain. José María began studying the flamenco guitar during his late teens with guitarists such as the virtuoso Lionel James, Pepe Marco, and his cousin Manuel Antonio Roldán from Seville. In recent years, José María’s main focus has been the accompaniment of singers and dancers. He has worked with many great flamenco artists such as: flamenco singer José María Roldán, “Pepe de Sevilla” (his father); guitarists Lionel James, R.J. Fox, and Lewie Booth; flamenco dancers Sonia Santamaía, Coral Citron, Andrea Del Conte, Vanessa Alvarado, and Margo Torea. José María has performed in theater productions, hotel and casino venues, corporate events, and on television. Additionally, he and his group performed at the 2005 American Folk Festival in Bangor, Maine, and at the famous Feria de Abril, in Seville, Spain. He was a member of the faculty of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Dance Department as a flamenco accompanist. Besides performing and accompanying dance classes, José María also teaches flamenco guitar to a limited number of students. José María collaborated with his father and a wide array of flamenco artists to form “The Spirit of Flamenco” to present a traditional “tablao style” interpretation of pure flamenco. José María moved to the Austin area with his family last year.
José María Roldán, IVJosé María Roldán, IV “Joey”, began to study flamenco dance at age three. Joey danced in many shows with The Spirit of Flamenco before deciding to retire at age six! Joey, now twelve years old, recently showed interest in the cajón, a Peruvian percussion instrument widely used in flamenco since the early 1970’s. He is now regularly performing with The Spirit of Flamenco as the groups percussionist, where he can put his understanding of flamenco rhythms to use to help drive the group’s beat.
A brief History of Flamenco
Gypsies came to Europe from India in a series of migrations starting around the 12th century. After wandering through central Europe, a group of them arrived in Spain early in the 15th century (around 1423 they were described as reaching Barcelona). Others appear to have reached Southern Spain from North Africa later in the same century. They brought with them their own language, and an oriental-based music. To this day, flamenco clearly shows signs of its oriental origins in the use of non-Western chord structures and progressions.
The roots of Flamenco can be traced back for centuries born from the expression of a persecuted people, most notably, the Gypsies of Andalusia. Flamenco’s unique blend of influences and musical complexity can be attributed to the consequences of the decree made in Spain 1492 by Catholic Spanish King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella that everyone living under their domain convert to Catholicism. This proclamation was issued under the threat of varying degrees of punishment, the most severe being the death penalty, by fire. Gypsies, Muslims, Jews and anyone living in Spain at the time were ordered to convert. It is believed that because of this decree, these different ethnic groups came together to help each other, and within this melding of cultures Flamenco was born.
Flamenco, in general, consists of three artistic elements: song (cante), dance (baile), and guitar (toque). In addition, there are often members of a Flamenco group playing "palmas" (hand clapping), and “castañuelas or palillos” (castanets). The relationship between the artists is similar to that of Jazz-there is a basic structure that one must follow, but at its heart, it is an improvised form. The singing is the center of the Flamenco group. The dancer physically interprets the words and emotion of the singer through his or her movements, which include percussive footwork and intricate hand, arm and body movements. The guitarist provides the accompaniment to the singer and dancer, accentuating his or her vocal lines and/or melodies.
Gypsies came to Europe from India in a series of migrations starting around the 12th century. After wandering through central Europe, a group of them arrived in Spain early in the 15th century (around 1423 they were described as reaching Barcelona). Others appear to have reached Southern Spain from North Africa later in the same century. They brought with them their own language, and an oriental-based music. To this day, flamenco clearly shows signs of its oriental origins in the use of non-Western chord structures and progressions.
The roots of Flamenco can be traced back for centuries born from the expression of a persecuted people, most notably, the Gypsies of Andalusia. Flamenco’s unique blend of influences and musical complexity can be attributed to the consequences of the decree made in Spain 1492 by Catholic Spanish King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella that everyone living under their domain convert to Catholicism. This proclamation was issued under the threat of varying degrees of punishment, the most severe being the death penalty, by fire. Gypsies, Muslims, Jews and anyone living in Spain at the time were ordered to convert. It is believed that because of this decree, these different ethnic groups came together to help each other, and within this melding of cultures Flamenco was born.
Flamenco, in general, consists of three artistic elements: song (cante), dance (baile), and guitar (toque). In addition, there are often members of a Flamenco group playing "palmas" (hand clapping), and “castañuelas or palillos” (castanets). The relationship between the artists is similar to that of Jazz-there is a basic structure that one must follow, but at its heart, it is an improvised form. The singing is the center of the Flamenco group. The dancer physically interprets the words and emotion of the singer through his or her movements, which include percussive footwork and intricate hand, arm and body movements. The guitarist provides the accompaniment to the singer and dancer, accentuating his or her vocal lines and/or melodies.
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