Sabicas

Latin Music/Recording: Europe: Sabicas

Sabicas

Traditional flamenco had emphasized song and dance over instruments, relegating guitar to a supporting role. That was changed by Ramon Montoya (1879-1949), a major name in the history of flamenco who yet did little recording on his own. It was with Montoya that flamenco guitar began to be appreciated in itself, solos performed without lyric or stamping heels. One rare example of Montoya performing solo is this solea flamenco from 1936. Though Montoya toured across the Atlantic he didn't arrive to the international renown that guitarist and younger partner by 32 years, Sabicas, would. Chet Atkins, another world-class guitarist, thought Sabicas to be the finest guitar master in the world. Via globe-hopping virtuosity Sabicas made a major contribution to the international renown of flamenco. His contemporary counterpart in classical guitar was Spaniard, Andres Segovia.

Born Agustín Castellón Campos on 16 March 1912 in Pamplona, Spain, Sabicas began guitar at age four, performing publicly two years later. But Sabicas is another of those musicians concerning whom sources vary widely. He is also said to have given his first performance in Madrid at age nine. Howsoever, he is known to have gone by El Niño de las Habicas early in his career, called Habicas as a child by his mother due to his liking of broad beans.

Sabicas' initial recordings are given here as 1930 only tentatively. Sources range his first tracks from the latter twenties in Barcelona to the early forties. I mention 1930 due to an import issued in 1993 by Fonografica Del Sur, claiming a compilation from 1930 to 1940. The title of that release is 'Sabicas – Recital de guitarra flamenca Vol 1', the first of three. Other sources, however, doubt the authenticity of a 1930 date with good reasons [see Magnussen / Magnussen]. I must classify Sabicas' first recording as mystery of the cosmos. Though 1930 may well be incorrect it is the only thing resembling a date at all that I can discover. Nor have I found any samples of Sabicas at YouTube released before 1940 in his latter twenties. Nevertheless, find herein examples spanning nigh fifty years of performances.

Upon the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 Sabicas left Spain for South America with Carmen Amaya. Touring eventually led to Mexico City where he supported Amaya's dancing career, including a trip to New York City in 1941 to perform at Carnegie Hall. The early forties in Mexico also brought marriage to Esperanza González Erazo. Wikipedia has three of his four children — Maricruz (b 1944), Carlos (b 1946 deceased), Agustine (b 1952) and Margaret (b 1956) — yet living as of this writing. The granadina below indicates authorship in the region of Granada, Spain, if not Granada proper. Similarly, the colombiana which follows means that it is of Columbian rather than Spanish origin.

'Embrujo del Fandango' ('Fandango Wrapping') Sabicas

Film w Carmen Amaya released in Cuba 26 Jan 1940

Historias del Flamenco

Granadinas from the film 'Martingala' Sabicas

Directed by Fernando Mignoni Music by Juan Álvarez García

With Lola Flores Released in Mexico 1940

Columbiana from the film 'Los Amores de un Torero' Sabicas

'The Loves of a Bullfighter'

Written and directed by José Díaz Morales

With Carmen Amaya Released in Mexico 1945

It was 1949 when Sabicas' album, 'Flamencan Guitar Solos', was issued in the U.S. on Decca CU 709. Later moving to New York City in the fifties, he returned to Spain in 1967.

'Danza Mora' Sabicas

From the album 'Flamencan Guitar Solos' on Decca DU-709 1949

Composition: Agustín Castellón

The bularia [Wikipedia] is a fast-tempo style originating in Jerez, Spain, applied below to cuentas, meaning of origin in the region where Argentina, Bolivia and Chile all share common borders. The cueca [RYM] is the national dance of Chile.

'Las dos puntas' w 'Entre Mendoza y San Juan'

Sabicas w Carmen Amaya

'The two ends'

Composed by Carlos Montbrun Ocampo w lyrics by Osvaldo Rocha

'Between Mendoza y San Juan'

Composed by Carlos Montbrun Ocampo / Hernán Videla Flores

Released 1957

'Gypsy Flamenco' Album by Sabicas

See ABC-Paramount ABC S 239 1958

Compositions by Sabicas

'Flamenco Puro' Album by Sabicas

See Columbia W 304 1959

Compositions by Sabicas

'La Zarzamora' Bularias by Sabicas

From the album 'Solo Flamenco' on ABC-Paramount ABC 304 1959

Composition:

Antonio Quintero Ramírez / Manuel López-Quiroga / Rafael de León

'Bulerias del Terremoto' ('Bulerias of the Earthquake')

Sabicas w Dolores Vargas

From the album 'Furioso' on Decca DL 8900 1959

Composition: Sabicas / Escudero

'Flamenco Fantasy' Album by Sabicas

See MGM Records E3859 1960

Compositions by Sabicas

'La Malagueña' Sabicas

See the album 'Flaming Flamenco Guitar' United Artists UA 3236 1962

Composition: Ernesto Lecuona

'Aires de Puerto Real' Soleares by Sabicas

From the album 'El Rey Del Flamenco' on ABC Records ABCS-526 1965

Composition: ?

Score

The rondena is a palo (form) of flamenco originating in Ronda, Malaga, forty or so miles west of Malaga for birds. The alegrias (joys) is a form of flamenco originating in Cadiz which developed alongside the basic solea (plural: solearas) [Wikipedia] perhaps originating in Seville, otherwise the Cadiz-Seville region.