VOA标准英语2013--Flamenco Band Has Arabic, Islamic Influences

 

Flamenco Band Has Arabic, Islamic Influences

The unmistakable sound of flamenco - Spanish guitar and heels - is transformed by the members of the San Francisco band, La Ruya.

One of the band’s founding members is Sam Foster. He’s a rock and jazz drummer who became fascinated with Arabic and Turkish percussion¹, and from there to Flamenco. He brought in flamenco dancer and choreographer² Melissa Cruz, and other musicians to create La Ruya’s unique sound.

“We are taking forms and in some cases actual songs from other parts of the world and flamencoizing them," Foster said, "so you have something new, a sound I haven’t heard before.”

The instruments used by the group include the oud, which is the middle eastern lute³; the flute⁴; the cajon, the box drum; and darbouka, the gourd⁵ drum, also known as dumbek.

And, they have the palmas.

“Palmas are flamenco hand claps," said Melissa Cruz. "And typically it is the flamenco singer and flamenco dancer who are doing the palmas.”

Wherever La Ruya performs, they find an appreciative⁶ audience.

“I feel the audience very intensely when I dance, and I love to even be playful with people in the audience," said Cruz. "It helps me move through what I’m trying to create in the moment, gesturing to them. It makes for a complete experience for both performers and the audience.”

Some say traditional Spanish flamenco should stay the way it’s been. 

Others say La Ruya’s Arabic style takes the dance back to the roots of the Spanish peninsula, to Moorish⁷ Spain. 

For Cruz, La Ruya’s flamenco style of Moorish and Arabic rhythms and instruments isn’t changing flamenco; it’s bringing the tradition back to its origins. 

1 percussion   

n.打击乐器；冲突，撞击；震动，音响

参考例句：

• In an orchestra,people who play percussion instruments sit at the back.在管弦乐队中，演奏打击乐器的人会坐在后面。
• Percussion of the abdomen is often omitted.腹部叩诊常被省略。

2 choreographer   

n.编舞者

参考例句：

• She is a leading professional belly dancer, choreographer, and teacher. 她既是杰出的专业肚皮舞演员，也是舞蹈设计者和老师。 来自辞典例句
• It'stands aside, my choreographer of grace, and blesses each finger and toe. 它站在一旁，我优雅的舞蹈指导，并祝福每个指尖与脚尖。 来自互联网

3 lute   

n.琵琶，鲁特琴

参考例句：

• He idly plucked the strings of the lute.他漫不经心地拨弄着鲁特琴的琴弦。
• He knows how to play the Chinese lute.他会弹琵琶。

4 flute   

n.长笛；v.吹笛

参考例句：

• He took out his flute, and blew at it.他拿出笛子吹了起来。
• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。

5 gourd   

n.葫芦

参考例句：

• Are you going with him? You must be out of your gourd.你和他一块去？你一定是疯了。
• Give me a gourd so I can bail.把葫芦瓢给我，我好把水舀出去。

6 appreciative   

adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的

参考例句：

• She was deeply appreciative of your help.她对你的帮助深表感激。
• We are very appreciative of their support in this respect.我们十分感谢他们在这方面的支持。

7 moorish   

adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的

参考例句：

• There was great excitement among the Moorish people at the waterside. 海边的摩尔人一阵轰动。 来自辞典例句
• All the doors are arched with the special arch we see in Moorish pictures. 门户造成拱形，形状独特，跟摩尔风暴画片里所见的一样。 来自辞典例句