El Camino Real (“The Royal Road” or “The King’s Highway”) was commissioned by the 581st Air Force Band and its commander, Lt. Col. Ray E. Toler. This fantasy is based on a series of Spanish folk melodies and underscored by chord progressions used by generations of flamenco guitarists, whose fiery style and brilliant playing have created a vast body of what many consider authentic Spanish music.

The music follows a traditional fast-slow-fast pattern, with a first section that is based on the dance form known as the jota, and second contrasting section derived from the fandango.