Fandango
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This page is about the dance style. For other meanings, see Fandango (disambiguation).
Fandangos is a style of folk and flamenco music and dance. As a result of the metric of its lyrics and their rhythmic scansion, most scholars consider it a derivation from the jota.
Some philologists have tried to link it to the ancient Roman erotic dance known as the cordax (called iconici motus by the poet Horace and the playwright Plautus). The satires of Juvenal make specific mention of the testarum crepitus (clicking of castanets). In its earlier Greek expression, finger cymbals were used. Though these hypothetical links enjoy little evidence, they suggest a rich, ancient background.
The current 3/4 pattern, its distinct descending chord progression (A minor/G major/F major/E major), lyrics with octosyllabic verses and the use of castanets are well-documented from the Baroque period. During their appointment to the Madrid court, Italian composers such as Luigi Boccherini introduced an idealized, slow fandango in the Classical European tradition. Fandango display dances spread along the Iberian peninsula during the 18th century. Most outstandingly, they became a major flamenco variety.
The fandangos grandes (big fandangos) are normally danced by couples, which start out slowly with gradually increasing tempo. Many varieties are derived from this one.
The fandanguillos (little fandangos) are livelier, more festive derivations of fandangos. Some regions of Spain have developed their own style of fandangos, such as Huelva (fandangos de Huelva) and Málaga (fandangos de Málaga, or Verdiales). Northern areas such as the Basque Country and Castile have preserved a more relaxed performance.
Fandango is also one of the main folk dances in Portugal. The choreography is quite simple: on its more frequent setting two male dancers face each other, dancing and tap-dancing one at each time, showing which one has the most lightness and repertoire of feet changes in the tap-dancing. The dancers can be boy and girl, boy and boy (most frequent) or rarely two girls. While one of the dancers dances, the other just "goes along". Afterwards, they "both drag their feet for a while" until the other one takes his turn. They stay there, disputing, seeing which one of them makes the feet transitions more eye-catching.
As a result of the extravagant features of the dance, the word is used as a synonym for 'a quarrel', 'a big fuss' or 'a brilliant exploit'.
[edit] References in popular culture
- Procol Harum's song "Whiter Shade of Pale" contains the line We skipped the light fandango.
- Queen's song "Bohemian Rhapsody" contains the line Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the fandango?
