Andrés Segovia, 2017 on the 30th anniversary of his death. 95 and 50 anniversary of the 1st Conquest of flamenco “Cante Jondo” Granada, 1922.

In 1922, the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla led in the organization of the Concurso de Cante Jondo for Granada. Many classical musicians, cultural and literary figures, including the young poet Federico García Lorca, participated in the program. The result was the memorable series of flamenco performances held at the Alhambra during June.

Lorca had evidently used the title Poema del cante jondo (es) for a 1921 collection of poems, although he did not publish it for ten years.

In 1931, García Lorca presented a conference devoted to keeping the rich tradition of the cante jondo alive. The following is translated from the conference notes by Lorca:

The cante jondo approaches the rhythm of the birds and the natural music of the black poplar and the waves; it is simple in oldness and style. It is also a rare example of primitive song, the oldest of all Europe, where the ruins of history, the lyrical fragment eaten by the sand, appear live like the first morning of its life. The illustrious Falla, who studied the question attentively, affirms that the gypsy siguiriya is the song type of the group cante jondo and declares that it is the only song on our continent that has been conserved in its pure form, because of its composition and its style and the qualities it has in itself, the primitive songs of the oriental people.

In 1972, on the 50th anniversary of this contest, most representative figures of the cultural, flamenco and guitar world gathered together to commmeorate the 50th anniversary of this unique event. It also became an historic cultural event.

Manolo Cano, Andrés Segovia, Sabicas and Rafael Gómez Montero

Granada 2017 “Concurso de Cante Jondo: 95 years”

EXHIBITION: EL CANTE JONDO. CANTO PRIMITIVO ANDALUZ

Until 23 July 2017. Mondays-Fridays 9-14 and one hour before concerts.

Auditorio Manuel de Falla

Granada 1972. Primer cincuentenario del “Concurso de Cante Jondo: 50 years”

Durante los días 17 y 18 de junio de 1972 se celebró en Granada

 

un concurso con el que se conmemoraba –aunque lo que se destacó en el anuncio fue la participación de Sabicas- el celebrado en la misma ciudad 50 años antes. La circunstancia del aniversario se aprovechó para homenajear a dos guitarristas señeros,

Manuel Cano

La presencia de Sabicas para participar como invitado en la fase final permitió la realización de esta histórica foto

El ganador del concurso –en el que, como en 1922, no admitieron profesionales, participaron, entre otros, Diego Clavel, El Perro de Paterna, Chaparro de Córdoba, Joselero … y presidió su jurado Pepe el de la Matrona- fue Calixto Sánchez

que anda de retirada.

Todos los ganadores participaron –junto a la bailaora Mercedes Quesada y el cantaor Manuel Mairena, entre otros- unas semanas después en la clausura del

con “lleno bastante aceptable” como recogió la gacetilla

(Los guitarristas que acompañaron a los cantaores intervinientes en el concurso –ya los habrán reconocido- fueron los Habichuela).

GRANADA 1922: I CONCURSO DE CANTE JONDO