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SPANISH DANCE
As We all already know, one of the objectives of our “M.A.D. Project” is to
get our students to appreciate the cultural diversity whitin Europe through the
knowledge of its dances and traditional music; hence, We shall start with a
detailed approach to our regional folklore, which make our students conscious
of their own cultural identity.
And, as We are Spanish and We live in Murcia, We are learning how to dance
“jota”. But..
What is the meaning of “jota”?
It is a popular dance known throught Spain. Its ternary rhythmic structure
and quick tempo (allegro/presto) makes it ideal for the people to take part in the
dances.
Some theories state it has got an ancient origin. The most plausible theory
about its inventor is the one that attributes it to an arab called Abe-Jot. This
dance spread throught the Iberian Peninsula and gave rise to regional
variations, being the ones in Castilla, Valencia and Aragón the more significant.
The “Jota Murciana” is the result of a mixture of them.
The outline of the musical structure is: MUSIC-COPLA-CHORUS. The Chorus
is normally sung by the chorus while the soloist sings the copla.
However, nowadays, the copla is sung all together. The dance is usually
performed in a group, although in its origin it was performed in pairs.
The instruments that accompany the dance:
Instruments
MELODIC INSTRUMENTS:
Bandurria
Laúd
Violín
HARMONIC INSTRUMENTS:
Guitarra
Guitarrillo murciano
RHYTHMIC INSTRUMENTS:
Postizas (dancers play them beating the rhythm while they dance).
Pandereta.
The Folk singing
Every group of “Coros y Danzas” has one or two male or female soloist who can
be accompained by a choir singing some chorus in two or three-part voices.
Initiation to “Jota”
Now, You can see the lyrics and sheet music for the song “Don Melitón or Don
Melindón” that our students are learning as well as a rehearsal of the
choreography.
This traditional song is based on traditional children dances, “juegos de corro y
rueda”, which contain the rhytmical elements of the “jota”.
Juegos de corro y rueda: Juegos de corro o rueda, where children give their hand to each other
and turn around following the rhythm, songs, dialogues, postures, etc.
DON MELITÓN O DON MELINDÓN
DON MELITÓN
DON MELITÓN TENÍA TRES GATOS
QUE LES HACÍA BAILAR EN UN PLATO
Y POR LAS NOCHES LES DABA TURRÓN
QUE VIVAN LOS GATOS DE DON MELITÓN
A DON MELITÓN COMO ERA TAN CHATO
LE LLAMABAN OREJAS DE GATO
PERO LOS GATOS SE HAN ESCAPADO
QUE VIVAN LOS GATOS DE DON MELITÓN