Spanish music is as diverse as the geography of the country. The form of Spanish music that tops the popularity chart is definitely the flamenco. A vigorous and rhythmic style of music and dance, it originated during the eighteenth century in the cities of Cadiz, Jerez, and Seville in the Andalusian region of Southern Spain. Flamenco is a combination of three forms - the cante or song, the baile or dance, and the guitarra or guitar. (Originally, it only consisted of the song and the hand-clapping or knuckle-rapping; the guitar was incorporated only in the nineteenth century.) This art form has its roots in the songs of the gypsies of Andalusia; its gestures and movements-such as the outturned leg position, sharp angles of the body and arms, splayed fingers, rapid barrel turns, and percussive foot movements-were developed and perfected in the numerous music/singing cafes of the nineteenth century.

Galicia and Asturias in northwest Spain have their own autonomous musical tradition. The people inhabiting these regions are of Celtic origin, and Spanish music from this region is similar to the music of Wales and Ireland. The gaita, which is similar to the bagpipe, is the most commonly used musical instrument, and it is usually accompanied by the tamboril, which is a kind of drum. Gaita and tamboril bands play all kinds of music, from the lively to the solemn. The sprightly muineiro, with a rhythm akin to that of jigs, is the most popular form of song. But the oldest and primarily venerated form is the alalas, a chant separated either by bagpipe music or vocals.

Basque music, like Basque language, presents a wholly unique trend in Spanish culture. The Basque contribution to Spanish music consists of the development of three original instruments, namely the txistu, comprising a pipe and a drum, the alboka, which is a combination of a pipe and a horn, and the dultzaina, which is a wind instrument. However, the most commonly used instruments today are the button accordion and the tambourine. The music that is created is continuous, rapid, driving and melodious, and accompanies the Basque dance form know as the trikitixa. Basque music is generally collective in nature.

In the city of Salamanca, in the Castille-Leon region of Spain, we are confronted with yet another tradition of Spanish music. It is la tuna, and its origins can be traced to the medieval era, when the university’s poor students earned money by singing in the streets. Today, the students still dress in the traditional black capes and leggings, and sing and play mandolins and guitars, serenading tourists, or earning money by performing at weddings. The remarkable fact about Spanish music is that, through a continuous process of improvisation, traditions which began more than eight or nine hundred years ago are still in vogue, and continue to remain a part of mainstream culture.