I Wonder Why...?

The Spanish guitar, with its rich, resonant tones and expressive capabilities, holds a unique place in the world of music. Its journey through history is a fascinating tale of evolution, innovation, and cultural exchange, spanning centuries and continents. From its humble beginnings in ancient civilizations to its modern-day status as a beloved instrument across genres, the Spanish guitar's story is as captivating as its sound. 

Early Ancestors: Laying the Foundation

The roots of the Spanish guitar can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece, where instruments like the oud and the cithara were played. These early stringed instruments, with their pear-shaped bodies and fretted necks, laid the groundwork for the guitar as we know it today.

The Moorish Influence: A New Sound in Spain

The Moors, who ruled Spain for centuries, brought with them their own musical traditions and instruments, including the oud. This lute-like instrument, with its rounded back and short neck, had a profound influence on the development of the guitar in Spain. The Moors also introduced new musical scales and modes, enriching the musical landscape of the Iberian Peninsula. 

The Medieval Guitar: Taking Shape

By the Middle Ages, two distinct types of guitars had emerged in Spain: the guitarra latina, with its four strings, and the guitarra morisca, with its five strings. These instruments, played with a plectrum or quill, were popular among the common people and were often used to accompany songs and dances.

The Renaissance Vihuela: A Golden Age

The Renaissance saw the rise of the vihuela, a six-course (double-stringed) instrument that resembled a larger guitar. The vihuela enjoyed immense popularity in Spain during the 16th century, becoming a favourite instrument of the nobility and a symbol of courtly refinement. Composers like Luis de Milán and Alonso Mudarra wrote intricate and expressive music for the vihuela, contributing to a golden age of Spanish music.  

The Baroque Guitar: Five Courses and Growing Popularity

In the 17th century, the five-course guitar, with its five sets of double strings, emerged as the dominant form of the instrument. This guitar, with its brighter and more resonant sound, gradually replaced the vihuela in popularity. The Baroque guitar was widely used in Spain and throughout Europe, and composers like Gaspar Sanz and Robert de Visée wrote extensive works for the instrument.  

The Classical Guitar: A Modern Icon Emerges

The 19th century witnessed the birth of the modern classical guitar, thanks to the pioneering work of Spanish luthier Antonio de Torres Jurado. Torres revolutionized the design of the guitar, increasing its size, refining its shape, and developing a fan-bracing system that enhanced its sound projection and tonal quality. His innovations laid the foundation for the modern classical guitar, which quickly gained popularity among both amateur and professional musicians.  

The 20th Century and Beyond: Diversification and Global Recognition

The 20th century saw the Spanish guitar embraced by a wide range of musical genres, from classical and flamenco to folk, jazz, and rock. Spanish composers like Isaac Albéniz and Manuel de Falla wrote masterpieces for the guitar, showcasing its versatility and expressive power. Flamenco guitar, with its percussive techniques and passionate energy, emerged as a distinct style, captivating audiences worldwide.  

The Spanish guitar also found its way into popular music, thanks to the influence of musicians like Andrés Segovia, who championed the instrument on the international stage. Segovia's virtuosity and dedication helped elevate the guitar to new heights, inspiring generations of guitarists and composers.  

The Spanish Guitar Today: A Timeless Instrument

Today, the Spanish guitar continues to be a beloved instrument around the world, appreciated for its versatility, rich sound, and cultural significance. From concert halls to intimate gatherings, the Spanish guitar's captivating tones continue to resonate with audiences of all backgrounds.  

Key Features of the Spanish Guitar

The Spanish guitar, also known as the classical guitar, is characterized by several key features that distinguish it from other types of guitars:

• Nylon Strings: Unlike steel-string acoustic guitars, the Spanish guitar uses nylon strings, which produce a warmer, mellower tone.
• Wide Neck: The Spanish guitar has a wider neck than most other guitars, allowing for greater finger spacing and facilitating complex fingerpicking patterns.
• Lightweight Body: The body of the Spanish guitar is typically made of lightweight woods like cedar and spruce, contributing to its resonant and responsive sound.
• Fan Bracing: The internal bracing system of the Spanish guitar, pioneered by Antonio de Torres, uses a fan-like pattern to distribute tension and enhance sound projection.  

The Spanish Guitar's Enduring Legacy

The Spanish guitar's journey through history is a testament to its enduring appeal and its ability to adapt and evolve with the times. From its ancient origins to its modern-day prominence, the Spanish guitar has captivated musicians and audiences alike with its expressive sound and rich cultural heritage. Whether played in a concert hall, a flamenco tablao, or a quiet corner of a home, the Spanish guitar continues to inspire and enchant, carrying with it the spirit of Spain and the legacy of generations of musicians who have shaped its remarkable history

All of you who know Spanish culture will agree that it revolves around festivals and parties. Most of the world knows about the British way of celebrating Halloween, but if you are in Spain on October 31 this year, you will realise that it is quickly becoming an important affair here. The festival which originated from the essence of remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed is fairly common in most of the civilizations across the globe.

When it comes to festivities the Spaniards like everything to be grand and elaborate. So now Halloween has become a three-day event starting with the night of Halloween. The second day (November 1st) is Dia de Todos Los Santos (All Saints Day) a day that has always been celebrated as far as can be remembered. Finally, on November 2nd, the concluding day of this festival is known as the Dia de Los Muertos (the Day of the dead) a holiday that is being borrowed from the Mexican tradition. This festival is all about honouring the dead and celebrating the continuity of life and thanking the Lord for giving us this life.

Different provinces and parts of Spain follow different rituals on these three days. Halloween in Galicia in Northern Spain is celebrated with more enthusiasm and pumpkin carving competitions, costume parties, bonfires fill the entire area. People happily sip a strong alcoholic drink named Quemada after reciting a spell (esconxuro).

Halloween in Barcelona and Catalonia is a little different affair and the bars and clubs are full of special nights and costume parties. Enjoy the Catalan tradition of La Castanyada and eat the small Catalan cakes ”panellets” made of marzipan, almonds, nuts and various other foods. Also be a part of various events, game shows, music concerts and other activities. You can eat in the local stalls which will be filled with seasonal delicacies such as castanyes (chestnuts), sweet wine, savouries, sweet potatoes and other delicacies.

There might be other fun activities in Barcelona during this time, but the locals do not forget to pay respect to their dead. Make sure you visit the city’s magnificent cemeteries to witness these mass gatherings. Some of the popular cemeteries are Montjuïc, Poblenou, and Les Corts.

Even though Halloween in Spain certainly has a commercial side, you will witness families gathering at the graves of deceased loved ones with flowers, offerings, holy water, food and drink on the second day of the festival. This is very much rooted in their culture and most will place at least flowers on family members' graves.

Halloween and the cut-outs of pumpkins go hand in hand in the memory of everyone who celebrates it or has witnessed it in movies and TV series. Just like in Britain and the US, on the first day of Halloween, around the country, you will now see children carving pumpkins and illuminating them with candles. It is now common to see pumpkins on sale in all supermarkets, something that wasn't so common 10 years ago. 

In the Southern part of Spain, in the city of Malaga, Halloween is marked with a large zombie march through the streets. You can witness the participants dressed up as witches, ghosts, goblins, zombies, vampires, Dracula, Frankenstein etc. roaming around on the streets and scaring people. There are competitions organised to tell scary stories and there is an eerie environment all around. This air of carnival can be seen in most cities around the country nowadays especially in University cities where you will see hundreds of students dressing up and roaming the streets.

In the city of Cadiz, during the Halloween holidays, street performances and concerts are organised. Also, you can enjoy the fruit and vegetable stalls which will display characters from some recent political scandals. The cut-outs and models made out of fruits and vegetables are quite mind-boggling. 
Tosantos in Cadiz also celebrates what is possibly the world’s weirdest Halloween gastro fest where market stallholders dress up their merchandise in fancy dress, so long as it’s entertaining and made out of food, anything goes.