Popular music resonates out into the cobbled streets and squares of Spain. Shaped by history, social and political change, Spain&rsquo;s music has an undeniable familiarity and accessibility, making it an essential part of Spanish culture and tradition. Regions retain distinctive and diverse cultural and musical styles. Popular music produced commercially, such as heavy metal, punk and ska, have a prominent role in Spanish society with bands such as La Pesta Negra. Artists such as Alejandro Sanz have made folk ballads relevant in Spain today.

The evolution of popular Spanish music styles developed from the early music of the Christian church. According to National Geographic, &ldquo;in 1496 Queen Isabella commissioned the first collection of Spanish songs -- known as the &lsquo;Cancionero de Palacio&rsquo;- partly to help bind her newly unified kingdom together with a common songbook.&rdquo; Classical and instrumental music gained recognition with Renaissance composers such as Tomas Luis de Victoria. To most people, the popular music style of Spain embodies flamenco. In fact, the country&rsquo;s diverse music styles have emanated from Arabic, Jewish, African, Irish, traditional Indian and Middle Eastern elements.

&ldquo;La zarzuela&rdquo; originated in the 17th century as musical entertainment for Spanish nobility, and its lively and jocular operatic style has come to resemble Broadway musicals. Appealing to a younger generation, Nuevo Flamenco maintains the customary rhythms and sounds of flamenco but infuses salsa and modern pop into the composition. After Franco&rsquo;s regime, early Spanish pop music mimicked French pop, but Spaniards ultimately drew inspiration from the American and British culture with trendy rock &#039;n&#039; roll, Spanish rap and electronic-techno sounds.

Deeply rooted in the southern province of Andalucia, flamenco cradles its roots from the Moors, gypsies and even East Indians. In the northern Aragon region, &ldquo;Jota,&rdquo; a prominent music style, has an upbeat tempo and rhythm. From the northwest region of Spain, Galician music bears a strong Celtic influence, while in Spain&rsquo;s Basque region, popular music is just as divided as their homeland, immersed in folk traditions and outside influences. Iberian Nature notes that &ldquo;Modern Basque traditional music includes ensembles of &ldquo;trikitixa&rdquo; -- a Basque accordion-- tambourine and voice.&rdquo; Artists such as Fermin Muguruza rediscovered traditional Basque folk incorporating it into ska punk and rock music.

In Flamenco, &ldquo;el cante flamenco andaluz&rdquo; retains an emotional lament, while the &ldquo;cante flamenco Gitano&rdquo; preserves a folkloric style. Both incorporate expressive hand-clapping accompanied by the fervent clatter of dancers&rsquo; feet. &ldquo;Traditional music continues to be the flagship of popular Galician music,&rdquo; explains Galician Tunes, with the &ldquo;gaita&rdquo; or Scottish Highland bagpipe, snare drum, fife and fiddle as accompaniments. Popular Basque music features a high-pitched three-hole flute and has a brisk style with short or staccato beats.

Local entertainment guides such as &ldquo;Barcelona Metropolitan Magazine&rdquo; and &ldquo;InMadrid&rdquo; help visitors find music-related venues. Barcelona&rsquo;s Palau de la Musica Catalana concert hall features operas, symphonies and flamenco. Near Barcelona&rsquo;s Placa Reial, popular clubs such as Jamboree host jazz, blues and Latin music. The Festival de Otono in Madrid features pop concerts, flamenco, jazz, salsa and rock. Madid&rsquo;s Caf&eacute; Central features internationally-known jazz musicians and Club Costello has live and club music.


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