The Guitar

Lorca prepared “The Guitar” poem and a series of other pieces in 1921 for a flamenco festival in Granada. Composer Manuel de Falla put together a two-evening event in 1922 called the Contest of the Deep Song, or El Concurso del Cante Jondo. Well-known artists received honors, but only yet-to-be discovered talent vied for the prize money. Not many new talents graced the event’s stages, as the flamenco singing form demands much of its singer. Falla’s intention was to spotlight the purity of the flamenco form rather than the popularized form that had evolved during a time when Spanish reformers only recognized the frivolity of the artform. Lorca’s “The Guitar” is a celebration of the beautiful sound the instrument can make and its cultural significance to its listeners. Among other artists and intellectuals of the time, Lorca was an immediate supporter of the event, preparing poems as well as writing essays and sharing presentations on the history and style of flamenco music to encourage attendance. About 4,000 people ultimately attended the event.

In 1952, The First Festival of Spanish Music and Dance took place in Granada, which has continued until the time of this writing. While this event is all-encompassing of the Spanish artforms, flamenco remains a part of the celebration.