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Saturday, April 9, 2011

H is for Hondo


A-Z Blogging Challenge for April. I'll post every day except Sunday. Today is the letter H. My theme is Flamenco.








H is for Hondo



Hondo is the deep song, the pure original expression of Flamenco. In it's oldest form, it comes from religious chants. It is this melancholy chanting that people, unfamiliar with Flamenco, sometimes find contrary to their idea of music. Singing in Hondo requires great effort because it calls for deep emotion and full power of the lungs and throat. There are very few Hondo singers in the US and I would consider myself fortunate to live near one.

There's also a lighter singing style, known as Cante Chico. This version deals with love and a more optimistic outlook. It is also often referred to as Modern Flamenco.

All are brilliant but there's nothing to compare to a well sung Hondo song. May it live on forever.

P.S. Readers are asking for an example. Here's one on YouTube (also spelled Jondo)
" EL ALCAYATAS " CANTE JONDO FRAGUERO
at

31 comments:

  1. TracyApril 9, 2011 at 3:49 AM

    Hey, thanks for teaching me something today; never heard of Hondo and well, know I can say I know a slight bit and will have to go and seek more info. I love music...

    Happy A to Z~

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  2. SueApril 9, 2011 at 3:59 AM

    Manzanita, is there any chance of you linking somehow to some of this singing. I've never heard of it at all and can't imagine what it sounds likeSue@JumpingAground (alliteration & drabbles)
    Sue@traverselife(Workplace bullying)

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  3. Eat To LiveApril 9, 2011 at 4:02 AM

    New to me too!!

    Manzanita, you are just a wealth of imformation.

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  4. Old KittyApril 9, 2011 at 4:41 AM

    I am so gonna google Hondo and search for some song samples of this on youtube - there must be samples!!! I'm so intrigued - thank you Manzanita!! Take care
    x

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  5. Arkansas PattiApril 9, 2011 at 5:04 AM

    I'll be following Old Kitty. This is totally new to me.

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  6. ManzanitaApril 9, 2011 at 5:22 AM

    Here's a YouTube Hondo also spelled Jondo.

    " EL ALCAYATAS " CANTE JONDO FRAGUERO

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  7. ManzanitaApril 9, 2011 at 5:44 AM

    EL ALCAYATAS " CANTE JONDO FRAGUERO

    Tracy, Sue, Terry, Old Kitty , Patti.

    You can listen to Hondo (also spelled Jondo) at above link to YouTube.

    It's difficult to find pure hondo on YouTube. Everything is so commercialized. The above is the closest I cold find at the moment.

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  8. AnonymousApril 9, 2011 at 6:08 AM

    Is this a talent that is still sung today? Is it still popular with the younger generation?

    Very interesting!

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  9. ManzanitaApril 9, 2011 at 6:16 AM

    Irene, It's still sung in Spain and is more popular with the older flamencos. But let's get real.... does the younger generation appreciate and preserve anything from their ancestors?

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  10. Bish DenhamApril 9, 2011 at 7:09 AM

    Boy, that's some emotional stuff, even though I don't understand a word. I really had no idea Flamenco was so intense, has such an emotional history.

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  11. ｴｲﾌﾟﾘﾙApril 9, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    Feel like I'm leanring so much about flamenco with your posts! Am enjoying them, and will return tomorrow for more!

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  12. Sylvia NeyApril 9, 2011 at 9:04 AM

    I would love to learn this! I'm stopping by from the A to Z challenge and I look forward to reading more from you.

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  13. Su-sieee! MacApril 9, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    It reminds me of Muslim prayers, Jewish cantors, and Kahiko chants, but more dark and rather sad, Most likely a reflection of their oppression. How old is flamenco? Had it started during the Inquisition?

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  14. cherieApril 9, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment, it meant so much to me.
    I have copied the iformation on Hondo and am going to You tube now.
    Have a wonderful day, you're the best!

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  15. Kittie HowardApril 9, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    I'd never heard of hondo either and thank you, Manzi, for broadening my horizons and spuring me on -- gonna google hondo and a bit more around hondo/jondo and water the learning seeds you've planted. Thank you!

    Hub is greatly cheered that the Red Sox won their opener!

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  16. Laura EnoApril 9, 2011 at 11:22 AM

    I'd never heard of Hondo. Thanks for the enlightening post! I know the flamenco I saw the gypsies dance in a cave in Sacromonte Granada was much different from the smiling flamenco dancers in Seville!

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  17. AnonymousApril 9, 2011 at 11:23 AM

    Good Point. It's like a dying art. Only a small group of youth will probably keep it alive. Those with deep roots to the music.

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  18. ShawnApril 9, 2011 at 3:20 PM

    I love the knowledge I am soaking up each time I visit! Hondo..great new word for scrabble!

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  19. LisaApril 9, 2011 at 7:11 PM

    Nice.....I didnt know that.

    Lisa
    InspiredbyLisa

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  20. AnonymousApril 9, 2011 at 11:51 PM

    I like Hondo...when I began the post, I thought you meant Honda! :). Thanks for the post.

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  21. KayApril 10, 2011 at 12:41 AM

    I've never heard of Hondo and this was interesting to listen to... very different.

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  22. ManzanitaApril 10, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    Su-sieee: Flamenco origins are murky and shrouded in mystery.All accounts differ. Probably because of Turkish invasions there was a whole caste system expelled from India in the late 14th century.They wandered different routes and ended up scattered throughout the world. No records were kept and no common language but Rom or Romani is the accepted language and they prefer to be called Romani but the world still recognizes them as Gypsies and Flamencos. Although many of the Rom live in Romania, that is NOT where their name originates. They've been a fascinating study for me for my whole life.

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  23. ManzanitaApril 10, 2011 at 6:56 AM

    Bish: I've studies many forms of dance and Flamenco wins on the emotional scale.
    Theycallmevarmit: Thanks. It's a pleasure to exchange blog readings with you.
    Sylvia: Have a happy blog reading day.
    Cherie : It's my pleasure to know you and your beautiful photography.
    Kitty: Your comments are always cheer my soul. Tell hubs..... "Go Red Sox."
    Laura: I have a post coming on Sacromonte. Happy that you were able to see it.
    Shawn: Scrabble is a fun game. Always learning new words. Ha
    Lisa: Happy that you stopped.
    damiantiwrites: Honda would be a "driving force." Ha ha
    Kay: Good to see you on this happy bloggy day. Thanks for the comment.

    I appreciate your thoughtful comments, everyone.
    Manzanita

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  24. JJApril 10, 2011 at 7:06 AM

    Terrific! I have seen flamenco several times in Europe, but I never heard of Hondo. Great post!

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  25. AnonymousApril 10, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    Another new thing for me to learn. I'm so glad you are doing this challenge. Everyday is something new.

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  26. Su-sieee! MacApril 10, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    Manzi, I would never have guessed India. So much about the world--past and present--to learn about. Thanks for the run-down.

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  27. BethApril 10, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    You have such an amazing roundup. Who would have thought you could do A-Z on flamenco?

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  28. FrikoApril 10, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    I don't suppose there's anything you don't know about Flamenco.
    It's good of you to spread this knowledge which we would otherwise not
    be able to collect.

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  29. ManzanitaApril 10, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    JJ: It's just the deep song. I doubt if they use the title much.
    Bernie: Not many Americans are interested in Flamenco.
    Beth: I'm chuckling. It's just that I've had a long time to gather information. :)
    Friko: Anyone can collect it but it's not a popular interest to most.

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  30. klahanieApril 10, 2011 at 6:23 PM

    Hi there Manzanita,
    Nice to see yet another blogger taking up the great 'Alphabet Challenge' :)
    Very interesting info regarding 'Hondo' and I must admit this is all new to me.
    And thus, you have covered the letter 'H'. Now then 'I' wonder what the next letter might possibly be.
    "Wanna Buy A Duck" Now there's a 'fowl' idea :)
    Take care and have fun.

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  31. Misha GerrickApril 11, 2011 at 2:09 AM

    Interesting. I can see how Hondo can be very difficult on the voice.

    :-)

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