Flamenco guitar in Granada and the Habichuela family
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April 19, 2023Origin and history of the flamenco guitar in Granada.
The flamenco guitar is a fundamental part of the cultural and artistic heritage of the city of Granada. The city of the Alhambra is considered one of the cradles of flamenco and, therefore, the flamenco guitar has been present in the city since ancient times.
The flamenco guitar is an icon of Andalusia.
The origin of the flamenco guitar dates back to the 18th century in Andalusia, but it was in the 19th century when the guitar began to be used regularly in flamenco. This style has developed over the years thanks to the influence of Arab and gypsy music, which have left their mark on Andalusian culture.
Influence of the flamenco guitar on Granada's culture
In Granada, flamenco guitar has evolved and been enriched by the influence of the gypsy culture and the presence of great masters of flamenco guitar in the city. Granada has produced some of the most important guitarists in the history of flamenco.
What characterizes the sound of the flamenco guitar?
The flamenco guitar is characterized by its warm and sweet sound, with a particular tone that is achieved thanks to the use of high quality woods, such as cypress and spruce. The guitar makers of Granada are famous for their handcrafted guitars and their ability to adapt the instrument to the needs and preferences of each guitarist. Today, Granada continues to be a benchmark in the manufacture of flamenco guitars, with numerous workshops and master guitar makers continuing the tradition and crafting high quality instruments.
In addition, the city has flamenco shows such as the one we offer at Tablao Flamenco Casa Anawhere the flamenco guitar plays an essential role, with great flamenco guitarists such as Marcos Palometas or José Fermín Fernández.
The Habichuela family, a saga of master guitarists
The Habichuela family has exported the flamenco guitar and its culture from Granada to the whole world.
The Habichuela family is one of the most emblematic sagas of flamenco in Spain and, in particular in the city of Granada, where they are one of the greatest exponents of the flamenco guitar that they have exported to the rest of the world. Throughout several generations, this family has stood out for its mastery and talent in flamenco, especially in the art of flamenco guitar, being recognized as one of the most important references of the current flamenco guitar.
The Habichuela family, several generations of first class flamenco guitarists.
The Habichuela family has a long tradition of guitarists, with several generations. The history of these artists dates back to the 19th century in Granada, where there was a guitarist named Juan Guindilla Habichuela, who accompanied Don Antonio Chacón and the Niña de los Peines. This guitarist, in addition to lending his second surname, taught Juanico Carmona, the first of the saga, who was known as Habichuela el Viejo, to play.
From this point on, great artists of the flamenco guitar have succeeded each other up to the present day. Habichuela el Viejo had four sons, all of them guitarists or 'tocaores', as the purists of flamenco would say.
One of the sons, Luis Habichuela, was considered by some to be the most complete of the saga for his ability to sing, dance and play the guitar. Carlos, another of the brothers, also dedicated himself to show business, but the most famous of all was Pepe Habichuela, who collaborated with great artists such as Camarón de la Isla, Juanito Valderrama and Enrique Morente. With the latter, he recorded the album 'Homenaje a Don Antonio Chacón'.
Another prominent member of the family was Juan Habichuela, whose death left a great mark on Granada and the world of flamenco. Juan played with artists such as Manolo Caracol, Fosforito, José Menese and Rafael Farina. He had three sons: Juan José 'El Camborio', Antonio and José Miguel. The latter triumphed under his first surname, Carmona, as did the group Ketama, who, with their flamenco fusion, have triumphed in music by approaching a more commercial audience.
But the saga does not end here. Juan Habichuela Nieto, husband of our bailaora Saray Fernández 'La Pitita', has a long list of awards and albums on the market despite his youth. And no wonder, his virtuosity on the guitar, his talent for composing and his 'sentío' for playing make this young guitarist from Granada one of the greatest figures of the flamenco guitar today.
Juan Habichuela Nieto, a genius of the flamenco guitar.
When he was only 15 years old, Juan Habichuela Nieto was already accompanying Enrique Morente on his tours, and it was this great singer who exploited the most creative side of this musician, something that we can see in the theatrical production entitled 'Fedra'.
In 2011, Juan Habichuela Nieto won the prestigious Bordón de Oro at the Cante de las Minas de La Unión, which consolidated his career and led him to work with great artists of the genre such as Estrella Morente, Pitingo, Juan de Juan, Antonio Canales, Diego Carrasco and José Parra, among others.
His first album, Mi alma a solas, was released in 2014, and his second album, Sentimientos de mi Ser, was released in September 2017 under the Universal Music label. The first single from the album,'Con nuestro corazón a Paco de Lucía', is a sample of his virtuosity and passion for music.
Juan Habichuela Nieto is the grandson of the legendary flamenco guitar master Juan Carmona 'Habichuela', who is considered by many to be the best flamenco guitarist in the history of flamenco.
