Colombiana

By Tony Bryant

The colombiana is thought to have its origins in a Latin American folk song, although there are some experts who put its creation in the hands of Pepe Marchena.

Juanito Valderama was another artist that excelled in these lighter styles of flamenco, but he, along with Pepe Marchena, was frowned upon by the die hard critics.

The colombiana is in 4/4 time and the lyrics are normally limited to the story of a young Columbian girl.

Pepe Marchena’s colombianas were based on the rumba, but it was two of Spain’s most influential flamenco artists that popularised the colombiana as a flamenco style outside of Spain; the dancer Carmen Amaya, and her guitarist, Sabicas.

 

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