Sevillanas

(Spanish pronunciation: [seβiˈʝanas]) are a type of folk music and dance of Sevilla and its region. They were derived from the Seguidilla, an old Castilian folk music and dance genre. In the nineteenth century, they were influenced by Flamenco. They have a relatively limited musical pattern but are rich in lyrics based on country life, virgins, country towns, neighbourhoods, pilgrimage, and love themes.

Originally known as Las Seguidillas Sevillanas, it apparently has its origin in Castilian folk music, in the years prior to the time of the Catholic Monarchs, whose composition from which it derives was known as “Castilian seguidillas”. Over the years it evolved and acquired more and more features of flamenco, and it is until the eighteenth century that it is considered part of flamenco.

Sevillanas can be heard mainly in fairs and festivals, including the famous Seville Fair (Feria de Abril de Sevilla). Among local groups that perform it are the Los Romeros de la Puebla, Los Amigos de Gines, Las Corraleras de Lebrija, Cantores de Hispalis, and Los del Río.

The sevillanas dance is the most popular folk dance in Spain. You can differentiate between fast and slow dances. They are usually danced by a couple, although there are exceptions and combinations in which the dance is done by a group of more than two people at the same time. It is divided into four verses, although formerly there were seven. The four movements of the dance are: paseíllos, pasa, careos and the auction. At the end of the last copla, the music and the dance are made to coincide, performing in a beautiful and romantic way at times. If the compass is ¾, (three beats). The first beat is strong, and the other two are weak. The music of sevillanas arises from the strings of the guitar that is played in any key, according to the singer. The guitar is usually accompanied by clapping, by the clappers who accompany the group or the singer. Sometimes the use of castanets (popularly known as sticks in Eastern Andalusia), the tamboril, the tambourine, or the pito rociero is also typical.