Lorca, flamenco and Rock
"Lorca, flamenco and Rock" is a project devised by the teachers of IES Fernando de los Ríos de Fuente Vaqueros, which aims to recover the songbook of Lorca but making a reinterpretation from the prism of Flamenco and Rock, be surprised with these young people and their talent.
"Lorca, flamenco and Rock" is a project devised by the teaching staff of the Fernando de los Ríos Secondary School in Fuente Vaqueros, which aims to recover Lorca's songbook but reinterpreting it from the perspective of Flamenco and Rock. In this course, and as a pilot experience, the students have recorded the "Zorongo Gitano", one of the pieces that Lorca recorded on the piano with La Argentinita in 1931. The song was recorded by the IES choir together with flamenco guitarists and piano, all of them part of the student body and teaching staff, in collaboration with José Antonio García, singer of 091. The video clip was filmed in the Casa Museo Natal de Federico, under the production of the students of the Curva Polar image and sound school in Granada.
The reinterpretation has sought to combine flamenco, rock and Lorca in an experience that helps to integrate the students and aims to keep the Lorca tradition alive by adapting it to other non-traditional languages.
The musical side of Federico García Lorca
Nicolás Hernández is a music teacher who arrived at IES Fernando de los Ríos in Lorca's hometown during the 21/22 academic year and discovered that most of the students could recite 'Yerma' to the letter, but practically none of them knew about the musical side of García Lorca. So Nicolás decided to change the melody and proposed singing Lorca to the rhythm of flamenco and rock.
Nicolás added notes to his own song and created "Lorca, flamenco y rock", a project whose main objective is to recover Lorca's songbook with new rhythms to involve children between 12 and 17 years old.
Gypsy Zorongo
In this course, and as a pilot experience, the students have recorded "Zorongo Gitano", one of the pieces that Lorca immortalised on the piano with La Argentinita in 1931.
This new version of "Zorongo", which aims to be the first of a dozen popular songs, has been recorded by the students of the IES choir with flamenco guitars and cajones, drums, bass and piano, with the encouragement of the teaching staff and the collaboration of the singer of 091, José Antonio García.
They have had a lot of support to launch this project, they have had a place to rehearse which they have lined with egg cartons for better soundproofing.
With "little" time for music classes and a lot of effort, the students of this centre have gone through the whole popular songbook of Lorca, have scrutinised its scores and have made a big bet with "Zorongo Gitano", a song adapted to rock with a lot of "cante jondo" that has conquered José Antonio García, singer of 091.
Bringing Lorca's culture closer to students
Nicolás wanted Lorca to be closer to the children and they have put a lot of enthusiasm into it, so much so that they have managed to get forty children to record in Federico's Birthplace, and all the participants are thrilled with the result of this proposal.
This project has helped the pupils to get to know compositions with almost a century of history, but also to sit Nestar Tellado at the piano that Lorca played, now somewhat out of tune, and for his classmates to fill such an inspiring space with flamenco and rock.
The videoclip was filmed under the production of the students of the Curva Polar image and sound school in Granada and has already changed the rhythm of some kids who are looking for a better life for their future.
Undoubtedly, a wonderful project where they have managed to motivate the kids to follow and learn from the great artist García Lorca.