Murcia is a region in Spain whose music is most famously the religious Auroras songs, which are derived from La Mancha and Andalusia. They include a cappella chants, sometimes accompniaed by church bells. They are often performed along small paths in orchards at night. For many people, Spanish music is virtually synonymous with flamenco, an Andalucian-Gitano form of music. ... Andalusia is a region in Spain that is best-known for flamenco, a form of music and dance that is Gypsy in origin and popular throughout the world. ... Aragon is a region in northeastern Spain. ... The Balearic Islands have become a center for musical innovation in the 20th century. ... The Basque are an ethnic group living in parts of France and Spain, with the majority in the latter country. ... The Canary Islands used to be inhabited by the Guanches which are related to Berbers; they mixed with Spaniards, who live on the islands now. ... Central Spain includes the cultural melting pot of Madrid and Castille. ... Catalonia (in Spain and France) has one of the oldest documented musical traditions in Europe, and has had a rich musical culture continuously for at least two thousand years. ... Extremadura is a region in Spain near Portugal. ... The Spanish regions of Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria are clustered together in the northern part of the country. ... Navarra and La Rioja are relatively small regions bordered by Aragon and the Basque Region. ... Valencia is one of the musical centers in Spain, and is known for its own variety of jota distinct from the Aragonese version, as well as bandes found in almost every village in the region. ... Flamenco dancer Belen Maya, photograph taken by Gilles Larrain at his studio, 2001 Flamenco is a song, music and dance style which is strongly influenced by the Gitanos, but which has its deeper roots in Moorish musical traditions. ... For many people, Spanish music is virtually synonymous with flamenco, an Andalucian-Gitano form of music. ... Spanish hip hop music began in the late 1980s. ... Spain has produced a great variety of rock and roll, but the most distinctive style may be flamenco-rock. ... A music festival is a festival that presents a number of musical performances usually tied together through a theme or genre. ... The Benidorm International Song Festival or Festival Internacional de la Canción de Benidorm (in Spanish) is an annual song contest which takes place each summer, since 1959, in the city of Benidorm, Spain. ... Murcia is a city in southeastern Spain, and is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Murcia, on the Segura river. ... La Mancha is a historical and natural agricultural region in Spain to the south of Madrid, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha and including parts of the provinces of Ciudad Real, Albacete, Cuenca, and Toledo. ... Motto: Dominator Hercules Fundator Andalucía por sí, para España y la humanidad (Andalusia for herself, for Spain, and for humanity) Capital Seville Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 2nd  87 268 km²  17,2% Population  â€“ Total (2003)  â€“ % of Spain  â€“ Density Ranked 1st  7 478 432  17,9%  85,70... A cappella music is vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. ...

Cuadrillas are festive songs sung at celebrations and holidays, especially on Christmas Eve. The Fandango Murciano is a well-known variation of the Andalusian fandango characterized by long extensions of the voice. José Verdú's Cantos populares de Murcia is a well-known collection of Murcian songs. See also Christmas The Christmas Eve (1904-05), watercolor painting by the Swedish painter Carl Larsson (1853-1919) Christmas Eve, December 24, the day before Christmas Day, is treated to a greater or a lesser extent in most Christian societies as part of the Christmas festivities. ... This page is about the flamenco style; for other meanings, see Fandango (disambiguation). ...