ABSTRACT
The music, charged with the task of evoking the gypsy setting, naturally had to borrow the design of the "jondo" songs and the flamenco dances. In despair, Candelas and the gypsies draw a magic circle, she performs the Ritual Dance of Fire round a smoking cauldron. These efforts are in vain and the gypsies enlist the help of the girl Lucia. The dead lover's insistent theme weakens as he succumbs to her enticement. Carmelo convinces Candelas of his true love and the evil spell is broken forever. The dances feature exciting solos and pas de deux, and a vigorous ensemble for a "Jota" finale. Some of the more profound verses were created to be sung. Others, less pious in nature, were intended to be danced. The lyrics are direct accounts of everyday feelings, often dealing with love, persecution, and revenge. Verses composed by gypsies are usually more primitive and less sophisticated than those of the Andalucians.
