When you think of Flamenco musicians and guitar player, some prominent names come inevitably to mind. Paco de Lucia, probably the best Flamenco guitarist in history, has become definitely a reference in the field. Born in Cadiz, Spain, in 1947, he has received many national and international distinctions for his masterly execution of the Spanish guitar and the dissemination of Flamenco Music. In 2004 he was appointed he was appointed Doctor Honoris Causa by the Cadiz University and in 2010 he got the same distinction by Berklee College of Music. This is surely a man who has succeeded in learning Flamenco guitar.

But to be fair, some other names must be mentioned when referring to the best Flamenco music players. Manolo Sanlúcar truly deserves a mention when it comes to Flamenco music masters. He is perhaps the most successful musician in blending avant garde fussion music with a more conservationist style, creating his own personal flavor. His dad was also a gifted musician, so he learnt the basics of guitar playing and music at an early age. So great was his father influence that Manolo’s brothers also devoted themselves to Spanish music.

Víctor Monge, aka “Serranito” is other prominent name of Flamenco music. He has taken Spanish music all over Europe, and the world. In Germany he had the chance to play in the Opera House in Colonia. He also performed in Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Australia and, of course, in the US and Canada, where there are a thick number of Flamenco fans. In the US he performed at the popular Carnegie Hall and in the Lincoln Center, among other well known houses. The Far East is not unknown for Serranito. He has recently taken Spanish guitar music as far as Japan.

Simple but complicated at the same time, castanets can be considered to be the heart and soul of Flamenco music. Perhaps the simplicity of this instrument is what makes it so interesting, and yet so hard to learn to play professionally. Playing castanets is more than just producing a rattling sound. They truly apply to Flamenco that fast paced hearted rhythm which is so characteristic. The heritage of ancient Roman, Sephardic and even Moorish music is present today in contemporary Spanish music, precisely through castanets.

How to play castanets is not that difficult, from an execution point of view. However there are very few professional castanets players, and they are intensely sought by the main philharmonics and orchestras of the world. There are also very many different models of castanets, made of different shapes and material. Obviously the first castanets were made of wood, ebony and rosewood, but as technology advanced and new materials were discovered, fiberglass and plastic castanets started to be manufactured, making castanets available to all audiences.

Castanets come in pairs, one male and one female. Male castanets have a deeper, bass sound, while female castanets tend to have a higher pitch. The loop is tied over the middle finger, so as to have the fingers free to press the castanets gently on the palm of the hand. Make sure to find the right size of castanet for you, and fit the loop gently but not too tight on your finger.

Flamenco castanets, when well played, can become a truly versatile instrument. Five basic sounds can be produced with the castanets, and it is through their proper combination that castanet players make us follow the rhythm of Flamenco dance and also in major pieces of music, like Bizet’s opera Carmen or Emmanuel Chabrier’s piece Spain.

When we read about those inspirational stories which tell us how somebody found his or her vocation early in life, we discover that a common denominator is an object that has entered in the person’s life. More often than not, a simple present like a pack of paints or a book or a photo camera change the perception of things in a dramatic way. So, why not entice our kids with Flamenco Menkes, or Flamenco combs. Imagine a girl who loves to dance like a true bailaora when she is given her first flamenco shoes. What might come from it? One can only guess.

Flamenco is a jolly, lively art. It narrates the life of a people, and Flamenco plays often depict dramatic or sentimental situation, which capture the heart due to their universal reality. Who has not ever cried over a spurned love, or because that important person has left our lives for good. Even the history and the culture of a nation are shown through music. There are many Flamenco pieces which describe how folks live, how people relate to each other, and their system of values. Flamenco truly shows how Spanish people feel.

Flamenco is a joyful dance, even though the topics it addresses are sometimes gloomy. It has a lively staccato style, which is enhanced by castanets merry sound. Really, if it does not have castanets, it cannot be called Flamenco. Flamenco must be considered a perfect ensemble of guitar strings, dance, rhythm and singing.

Flamenco goes beyond borders. It is listened to in almost every country of the world, regardless of their language or culture. In 2010 Flamenco was declared Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, highlighting the importance of Spaniard music.

Castanets are one of the most representative percussion instruments of Flamenco and Andalusian music. In spite that they look simple, they are very complicated to learn, and achieving high proficiency playing  castanets can take long years of study.

Not all castanets are made of the same materials. Of course, the most traditional ones are the wooden castanets, which is how they were originally made at first. But technology has also brought us some good quality plastic castanets, which can produce great sounds as well. The history of castanets goes back a long way, to the year 1000 BC. Phoenicians are considered the fathers of castanets, and as they travelled all around the ancient world, due to their trading activities, the jolly sound of castanets very soon became well-known in the area around the Mediterranean Sea, and in Minor Asia.

Castanets are played in pairs, and one of the things that non educated students learn is that they sound differently, that is to say, the left castanet sounds a little sharper than the right one. The two halves of castanets are attached by a string, and it must be well fit to the pinky, though not excessively. The palms of the performers must face their bodies, as the tips of the fingers gently press the castanet against each other, so as to produce that typical rattling sound.

Jale castanets are famous around castanet players. They usually offer an excellent relationship quality-price, and for a modest investment, one can get a decent pair of castanets, to add joy and fun to any performance. Yet, playing castanets professionally is an entirely different matter. There are only a handful of castanet professional concertmasters all over the world, and they are intensively sought after by the most important orchestras to accompany Bizet’s pieces, and many others which include this amazing instrument.

The Flamenco manton, also known as Mantón de Manila, is a vital part of the bailaoras outfits. The name originates in the city of Manila, an important port and capital city of the Philippines, where Flamencon Mantons made of China silk were abundant during the XVI century. Sailors and tradesmen used to bring these exquisite pieces from such a remote place to Spain, where prominent ladies would snatch them off their hands. Thus, mantones would almost go around the globe to be in the possession of Spanish women, from Manila to Veracruz, in Mexico, and then finally to Spain.

Mantones can be true pieces of art. Usually they are hand broidered, with joyful and delicate motifs, such as birds, flowers or arabesques. First mantones were ornamented with typical Chinese motifs, such as pagodas, or dragons. But soon enough, mantones de manila became the heart and soul of Andalusian bailaoras.

Mantones are supposed to be big, at least long enough to allow bailaoras to pass it under the arms, when they are dancing feverishly, so as not to lose it on the way. Mantones are also supposed to be light, hence they silk composition was perfect. The idea is to decorate, but not to overheat dancers.

There are as many manila shawls as there are dancers, in different colours and with different patterns. The common denomination is that they have transformed, over the passage of time, from a daily outfit to a piece of equipment which is most representative of Southern Spain traditions. There is even a local holiday in Ramales de La Victoria, a small town in Cantabria, devoted exclusively to the manton, which is around June. Mantones have definitely turned into a big part of Flamenco Music History, as it should be.

One of the items that Flamenco dancers cherish the most is their Flamenco dancing shoes. The performance of bailaoras is greatly influenced by their shoes, and consequently professional dancers pay a lot of attention to their shoes.

Flamenco dancing shoes can be quite a piece of art. They are usually handmade, and the most common colors are red and black, though, it all depends on the taste of the dancer. Nowadays, they can be seen in all colors, plain or combined: pink, blue, and even yellow are not unusual.

They are usually made of leather or suede, but one thing quality Flamenco dancing shoes have in common is that they have to be handmade, to preserve the quality and the sturdiness. They can be Amateur, which are dancing shoes for beginners and learners, Elite or Ultimate, for women who have made of this performing art their way of living.

Some Flamenco menkes –they are also called like this- have nails in their soles. This helps achieve a more acoustic effect when the bailaora is performing the show, accompanied by the rattling cheerful sound of castanets, and the beat of the cajón. Yes, Flamenco is a very rhythmic dance, which contributes to make it joyful and full of life. However, Flamenco has a lot to do with popular feelings, so pains and grievances are also reflected in their powerful lyrics.

There is a wide range of Flamenco shoes, both in quality and prices. The heel can be standard, carrete or cubano, depending on the shape. But they are all wide to sustain the ankle and provide security and support when dancing. It is important to get them from recognized stores, because buyers will be protected by return policies, in case they don’t fit or they don’t feel completely comfortable.

Flamenco is more of a lifestyle than a musical genre. Flamenco bailaores and performers usually take great pride in their gear, which resembles their personality and tastes. And one important piece of the equipment of any bailaora are Flamenco hair combs. This particular ornament is responsible of almost taking any woman with a colorful ample skirt and turning her into a true bailaora.

There are many models of hair combs. Some of them have the classic white rose or red carnation attached, so that when the performer makes her moves, there is no risk of losing the flower. Some others have pearls, while others a characteristic shell shape, which resemble old peinetones. Back then, these accessories were made of tortoiseshell, but now, with a more ecofriendly conception, there is no need to sacrifice an animal, and they are made of fine plastic components.

Castanets history is similar, regarding to the material they are made. Castanets have been among us since an incredible remote age: ten centuries BC. They were created by the Phoenician people. And since they travelled all around the ancient world with their trades, they took this percussion instrument wherever they went. At first, they were made of chestnut tree. Though castanets look alike for who is not an expert on the subject, the do sound differently: the bass castanets are called male and the sharper ones, female. There are only 4 professional castanet players all over the world. In symphonic orchestras, castanets are often played by the percussionist master.

Nowadays, some castanets are made of plastic, and the more expensive ones are custom made, to fit the hand of the musician. There are amazing pieces which were created to show off cheerful castanets sounds, such as Carmen, by Bizet, or Chabier’s Sapnish Rhapsody.