Manolo Sanlúcar
Encyclopedia
Manolo Sanlúcar is a flamenco
composer
and guitarist
born in Sanlúcar de Barrameda
(Cadiz
) in 1945. He is considered one of the most important Spanish composers of present times, and together with Paco de Lucía
, Serranito
, and Vicente Amigo
, one of the main figures in the evolution of the flamenco guitar in recent years.
His first teacher was his father, Isidro Sanlúcar, a baker and old-style guitarist, who frequently came home with people who were fond of cante
and playing; from his childhood he was exceptionally skilled to follow in his steps. His brothers also decided on the same vocation, among them Isidro.
He soon began to research, aware that the guitar had infinite possibilities that had hardly been explored. The most ambitious of his contributions to the art has been his constant striving to integrate flamenco in symphonic music. Several works of the greatest interest which have placed his name among the great composers of our time include: Fantasía para guitarra y orquesta, Trebujena, Medea and Soleá, showing his attempts to merge his primary focus in music, and which toured the world as a ballet; Tauromagia or Aljibe. Some of them were fortunately recorded.
Discussing it further, he later declared,
Manolo Sanlúcar also composed a sort of flamenco opera
on an idea by Lebrijano
, to be played on the stage, although it has not yet been produced: Ven y Sígueme.
Two of his most critically acclaimed records are Tauromagia (1988), and Locura de Brisa y Trino. (2000)
He has performed in some films.
He was awarded Spain's Premio Nacional de Música
for interpretation in 2000.
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
born in Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Sanlúcar de Barrameda is a city in the northwest of Cádiz province, part of the autonomous community of Andalucía in southern Spain. Sanlúcar is located on the left bank at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River opposite the Doñana National Park, 52 km from the provincial capital Cádiz and...
(Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
) in 1945. He is considered one of the most important Spanish composers of present times, and together with Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía, born Francisco Sánchez Gómez , is a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer. He is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest guitarist of the flamenco genre...
, Serranito
Serranito
A serranito is a warm sandwich prepared in Andalusia, quite popular in Seville. It is the Andalusian traditional cuisine version of the fast food....
, and Vicente Amigo
Vicente Amigo
Vicente Amigo Girol is a Spanish flamenco composer and virtuoso guitarist, born in Guadalcanal, near Seville. He has played as backing guitarist on recordings by flamenco singers El Pele, Camarón de la Isla, Vicente Soto, Luis de Córdoba and the rociero band Salmarina, and he has acted as a...
, one of the main figures in the evolution of the flamenco guitar in recent years.
His first teacher was his father, Isidro Sanlúcar, a baker and old-style guitarist, who frequently came home with people who were fond of cante
Cante flamenco
The cante flamenco is one of the three main components of flamenco, along with toque and baile...
and playing; from his childhood he was exceptionally skilled to follow in his steps. His brothers also decided on the same vocation, among them Isidro.
He soon began to research, aware that the guitar had infinite possibilities that had hardly been explored. The most ambitious of his contributions to the art has been his constant striving to integrate flamenco in symphonic music. Several works of the greatest interest which have placed his name among the great composers of our time include: Fantasía para guitarra y orquesta, Trebujena, Medea and Soleá, showing his attempts to merge his primary focus in music, and which toured the world as a ballet; Tauromagia or Aljibe. Some of them were fortunately recorded.
"I wish the experts in universal music to understand that they may approach flamenco, so they do not consider it something tribal and topical, so they see a branch of music in flamenco that allows very profound musical analysis and has extraordinary poetic and musical quality".
Discussing it further, he later declared,
"Flamenco is a philosophy, the way of thinking and feeling of a whole people and its historical tradition. That is why I feel the need to tell more things about flamenco with other sounds and I take to the orchestra and try to get the orchestra to play siguiriyasSiguiriyasSiguiriyas is a form of flamenco music belonging to the cante jondo category. Its deep, expressive style is among the most important in flamenco...
, but take note, not for the orchestra to accompany siguiriyas and a singer, but for the orchestra to take on the feeling of the flamenco and, as if it were a sole instrument, to tell that spirit and magic sound of flamenco".
Manolo Sanlúcar also composed a sort of flamenco opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
on an idea by Lebrijano
Lebrijano
Juan Peña Fernández, also known as Juan Peña "El Lebrijano" or simply El Lebrijano is a Spanish Gitano musician, the nephew of Perrate de Utrera.- Biography:...
, to be played on the stage, although it has not yet been produced: Ven y Sígueme.
Two of his most critically acclaimed records are Tauromagia (1988), and Locura de Brisa y Trino. (2000)
He has performed in some films.
He was awarded Spain's Premio Nacional de Música
Premio Nacional de Música
The Premio Nacional de Música forms part of the annual National Awards in Spain....
for interpretation in 2000.