History of the Music of Spain
Spain has a diverse and creative history of music. It began with singing and knocking on objects, and evolved over the ages into the pop music we hear today from Spain. As in all cultures, Spain's music has reflected its place in history.
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Early Music
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Cave drawings show that in prehistoric Spain, people were making musical instruments by placing skins on vessels, blowing into pipes and rubbing strings. Mozarabic chanting and singing, of Visigothic church origin, was popular until the 11th century, and Gregorian single-voice singing came into play in the 12th century.
Polyphony
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Polyphonic singing, with multiple interweaving melodies, dethroned Gregorian music around the 13th century.
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Renaissance
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Arabic music and the development of the Spanish guitar were formative influences on the new Spanish music of the Renaissance. Instrumental music flourished, and Spanish musicians traveled and picked up sounds from surrounding cultures.
17th and 18th Centuries
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The zarzuela, or Spanish opera, became popular during this time, as regional folk music also flourished. These two forms drowned out classical music for two centuries.
The 20th Century
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For 50 years after the Spanish Civil War, regional music was suppressed by dictator Francisco Franco. People still played their folk music, but kept it secret.
Today
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When Franco's rule was nearing an end, pop and rock music began to surface in Spain. Spanish musicians borrowed from the French, who learned from the British and American pop musicians. Later, they added flamenco rhythms, creating the Spanish pop music we know today.
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