Rio de Plata (granaína). Composed & performed by José Manuel León.
José Manuel León is a future superstar of flamenco guitar and composition. He has composed for solo guitar, instrumental ensembles, and for dance and voice accompaniment for over 30 years. León has a unique playing and compositional style that pushes flamenco to another level. This piece is an original granaína from his album, Sirimusa.
In previous posts, I mentioned that the granaína is a fandango from Granada, Spain that originated in the late 1800s. It has its roots in the Spanish folkloric malaguena but is performed with an ad libitum (freely improvised) tempo and an undefined rhythm. Like most flamenco styles, the granaína is traditionally a vocal style with complex and melismatic melodies. Solo guitar versions of this style mimic the musicality of the voice.
If you’d like to explore more pieces, Monasterio de Sal Flamenco and Classical Guitar is a calm and expressive option to start with. After that, Tientos de la Bahía Flamenco and Classical Guitar offers a slower, deeper groove you can really sink into. And for something more reflective, try Silla y el Tiempo Flamenco and Classical Guitar, which brings a gentle and emotional feel to your practice. If you want more help building your technique along the way, my Spanish Guitar Mastery course will guide you step by step.
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