Male flamenco singer |
| Name:Antonio Cruz García |
| Birth: 1909 Mairena del Alcor (Sevilla) |
| Death: 1983 Sevilla |
"Thanks to him [Antonio Mairena], in these years we have known in person what the purity of singing consists of, and up to what point in the tradition and in the creative rescuing of original cantes (styles), invention blends with memory and intermingles with it." Aquilino Duque.
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Antonio Mairena is one of the most important figures in the history of flamenco. His importance is such that his manner of singing and of understanding this music has been named "mairenismo", at the same time as there are flamencologists who divide the history of flamenco into two periods: before Mairena and after Mairena. He didn't have to wait until his death before receiving the recognition of his professional colleagues, as several tributes were held in his honour while he was still alive.
Antonio Mairena began singing in his gypsy family's parties, in meetings or intimate gatherings in Seville, where he was very successful, until he was hired by Carmen Amaya in 1933 to record the song for her film, "María de la O". After the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) he began recording and participating in the work of other artists like Juanita Reina, Pastora Imperio and Antonio el Bailarín.
Antonio Mairena was always guided by an encyclopaedic attitude and he championed the recovery and recreation of the pure original cantes (styles), without straying from the norms. The research that he undertook has been as important as his singing. It is thanks to him that we are acquainted with styles like the cantes of el Nitri, of Juanelo, of el Loco Mateo and other forms like the livianas primitivas, the romances gitanos, the corridos... This research resulted in him being awarded the post as Honorary Director of the Catedra de Flamencología y Estudios Folklóricos Andaluces (the Faculty of Flamencology and Andalusian Folk Studies) in Jerez de la Frontera in 1959, and the III Llave de Oro del Cante (Third Golden Key for Singing) in 1962, as well as other awards. |
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Complete listing of Antonio Mairena products: |
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Raíces del cante gitano
 Antonio Mairena
1 CD
Año edición: 2004
List price: US$ 12.37
Discount: 15%
Price: US$ 10.51
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News
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| Practical guides |
Tientos
Flamenco Forms
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Antonio Mairena
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