While the portrayal of flamenco in modern media concentrates primarily on a version of the art form consisting of passionate guitar playing, hand-clapping and expressive dance, it may come as a surprise that it has a much darker past.
Flamenco’s largely hidden history is quite literally being brought to the surface as Halifax’s Flamenco en Rouge presents Tierras oscuras at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 later this month.
…with its strong and important mining history and tradition, I thought this would be a great connection to make between miners across the Atlantic who share very similar stories.
Translating to ‘dark earth’ or ‘dark lands,’ Tierras oscuras finds its connection between Spanish and Nova Scotia miners.
“There is a large body of work in flamenco called the ‘mineros’ which revolves around the tragic story, life and emotion of miners,” explains Flamenco en Rouge artistic director Martine Durier-Copp. “And being from Nova Scotia with its strong and important mining history and tradition, I thought this would be a great connection to make between miners across the Atlantic who share very similar stories.”
Durier-Copp explains it was the gypsies of Southern Spain working the dangerous jobs in that country’s mines who were some of the primary originators of flamenco.
“They had to provide for their families, and they sang of the dangers with death always looming and not knowing if they would see the light,” she continues. “I thought that it would be a really good connection with the Nova Scotia tradition of mining.”
Archival photographs from the Cape Breton Miners Museum also help to create the bridge across the Atlantic.
“The museum’s digital archivist Daniel Farrow lovingly assembled about a hundred photos from the archives,” says Durier-Copp. “The performance is set against projections of these absolutely haunting black and white images of miners at work, with their families and in the community.”
Of course, music also plays a big part in flamenco, and it too creates another link in Tierras oscuras, with the show opening with Lynn Miles’ ballad, Black Flowers.
“Black Flowers is the story of a woman whose husband is killed in a mining accident,” explains Durier-Copp. “She describes rocking her baby in her garden, where everything is covered in black as a result of the explosion.”
Using traditional Spanish flamenco music in its middle, the piece ends with Requiem for the Miners. Choreographed by Halifax dance artist Gwen Noah, it provides an additional connection to Canada in a contemporary context.
“It’s not flamenco, although there are flamenco touches. It is very contemporary,” says Durier-Copp. “It’s a powerful and haunting piece with percussion, singing and incantation.”
With the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Scotland currently wrapping up, Durier-Copp also sees additional modern relevance for a show like Tierras oscuras.
“It’s a very powerful and moving show at a time of global transformation with our climate emergency and the death of coal mining,” she says. “It’s a production that is going to connect with your heart.”
Tierras oscuras plays at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 on November 16 and 17. Tickets are free, but guests must register in advance at pier21.com or visit flamencoenrouge.com for more information.
Wakati picha ya flamenco katika vyombo vya habari vya kisasa inazingatia hasa toleo la aina ya sanaa inayojumuisha kucheza gitaa ya shauku, kupiga makofi ya mikono na densi ya kuelezea, inaweza kuja kama mshangao kwamba ina zamani nyeusi zaidi. Historia ya Flamenco ya Halifax inakuja juu ya ardhi wakati Flamenco en Rouge inatoa Tierras oscuras katika Jumba la Makumbusho la Uhamiaji la Canada huko Pier 21. """Kwa historia yake ya madini yenye nguvu na muhimu na utamaduni, nilidhani hii itakuwa uhusiano mzuri wa kufanya kati ya wachimbaji wa madini katika Atlantiki ambao wanashiriki hadithi sawa." Kutafsiriwa kuwa "ardhi nyeusi" au "nchi nyeusi", Tierras oscuras hupata uhusiano wake kati ya wachimbaji wa madini wa Hispania na Nova Scotia. "Kuna mwili mkubwa wa kazi katika flamenco aitwaye'mineros' ambayo huzunguka hadithi ya msiba, maisha na hisia za wachimbaji wa madini", anaelezea Flamenco en Rouge mkurugenzi wa kisanii Martine Durier-Copp. "Kama mtu kutoka Nova Scotia na historia yake ya madini na utamaduni wake mkubwa na muhimu, nilifikiri hii itakuwa uhusiano mkubwa wa kufanya kati ya wachimbaji wa madini katika Atlantiki ambao wanashiriki hadithi sawa sana. ""Durier-Copp anaelezea kuwa ni gypsies wa Kusini mwa Uhispania wanaofanya kazi hatari katika migodi ya nchi hiyo ambao walikuwa baadhi ya waanzilishi wa msingi wa flamenco." "Walilazimika kuandaa familia zao, na waliimba juu ya hatari na kifo daima kukabiliwa na kutokuwa na kujua kama wangeona mwanga", anaendelea. "Kama ni kweli, hii ni moja ya picha za zamani za ""Muziki wa Madini ya Cape Breton"" na ni moja ya picha za zamani za ""Muziki wa Madini ya Cape Breton"" na ni moja ya picha za zamani za ""Muziki wa Madini ya Cape Breton.""" "Mwandishi wa kumbukumbu za dijiti wa jumba hilo la makumbusho Daniel Farrow alikusanya kwa upendo picha mia moja hivi kutoka kwenye kumbukumbu", anasema Durier-Copp. "Muziki una jukumu kubwa katika flamenco, na pia huunda kiungo kingine katika Tierras oscuras, na show ya ufunguzi na Lynn Miles ""ballad, maua nyeusi." "Black Flowers ni hadithi ya mwanamke ambaye mume wake anauawa katika ajali ya madini", anaelezea Durier-Copp. "Mwanamke huyo alimwambia mtoto wake kuwa alikuwa akipiga magoti katika bustani yake, ambapo kila kitu kilikuwa kimefunikwa kwa rangi nyeusi kutokana na mlipuko huo, na akitumia muziki wa kitamaduni wa Kihispania wa flamenco katikati, wimbo huo unamalizika kwa wimbo ""Requiem for the Miners.""" Choreographed na Halifax ngoma msanii Gwen Noah, inatoa uhusiano wa ziada kwa Canada katika muktadha wa kisasa. <unk>Si flamenco, ingawa kuna flamenco kugusa. Ni ya kisasa sana, "anasema Durier-Copp. "Kama sehemu ya maandishi ya mwisho ya mkutano wa Umoja wa Mataifa wa Mabadiliko ya Hali ya Hewa wa 2021 (COP26) huko Scotland, Duriel-Copp pia anaona umuhimu wa kisasa wa maonyesho kama Tierras oscuras.""" "Ni onyesho lenye nguvu sana na lenye kusisimua katika wakati wa mabadiliko ya kimataifa na dharura yetu ya hali ya hewa na kifo cha uchimbaji wa makaa ya mawe", anasema. "Tierras oscuras"" ni maonyesho ya muziki ya muziki ya kisasa ya Canada, ambayo hufanyika katika Jumba la Makumbusho la Uhamiaji la Canada, Pier 21 mnamo Novemba 16 na 17. """ Tiketi ni bure, lakini wageni lazima kujiandikisha mapema kwenye pier.com au kutembelea flamencoenrouge.com kwa habari zaidi.