Music of Extremadura

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Music of Spain
Andalusia	Aragon
Balearic Islands	Basque Country
Canary Islands	Castile, Madrid and Leon
Catalonia	Extremadura
Galicia, Cantabria and Asturias	Murcia
Navarre and La Rioja	Valencia
Genres: Classical - Flamenco Jazz - Folk - Hip hop - Opera - Pop - Rock
Timeline and Samples
Awards	Amigo Awards
Charts	AFYVE
Festivals	Benidorm, Eurovision, Sonar
Media	Fans, La Revista 40, Mundo Joven

Extremadura is a region in Spain near Portugal. Its folk music can be characterized by a melancholy sound, and Portuguese influences, as well as the predominance of the zambomba drum (similar to Brazilian cuica), which is played by pulling on a rope which is inside the drum. There is also a rich repertoire of gaita (local name for a tabor pipe) music. Jota is also common, here played with triangles, castanets, guitars, tambourines, accordions and zambombas.

There are few ethnomusicological recordings of Extremaduran music, with the most influential and well-known being by American researcher Alan Lomax. Lomax came to Spain in 1952-3 to avoid persecution as a Communist and found some hostility from Spanish researchers, then in a period of great political upheaval. Lomax and his assistant, Jeanette Bell, did much of their recording in secret.

Extremadura has long been one of the poorest regions in the country. As a result, many of its people left to Latin America during the colonial era (1492-1820's), leaving a mark on Latin music.

Traditional Extremaduran dances include: