|
|
"Barrio San Miguel" is a bulerias named after the Gypsy neighborhood of Jerez de la Frontera. This is one of the most demanding rhythms for dancing, singing and guitar, but it also gives you freedom for improvisation in every key.
|
|
|
"Ida y Vuelta" is a colombianas. When the Spanish conquered Cuba and America they assimilated indigenous forms into the music they remembered from home. These new rhythms and forms in turn influenced certain forms of flamenco. There is a book on flamenco music by this same title that explains how the music in Cuba came from Spain, then went back to Spain to reinfluence Spanish music. This was originally an Andulusian song, but my version is influenced by West Indian music.
|
|
|
"Pasion y Duende/Passion & Soul (plaidera)". The modern name of this form is seguirillas, but I like to use the ancient name, which comes from the verb plair which means 'to cry.' This style has a lot of relation to the Indian music that the Gypsies carried across Asia and North Africa and into Spain. Melodically it fits perfectly with certain ragas from India. Seguirillas is very hypnotic, because it keeps repeating itself, and the overtones create a drone. This particular song is based on the synagogue chants of the Sephardic Jews. The way its sung and played, it always goes back to the basic tone, and its very meditative.
|
|
|
"Galicia Flamenca" is a farruca, a tango rhythm, and while it has the feeling of the tango Argentino, its not what one would expect from listening to modern tango. Did tango come from Spain and go to Argentina, or go back to Spain from Argentina? Farruca originally came from Galicia in Northern Spain. Farruco was the word they used to call the people from the north who went south to find work. In Arabic farruco means brave man, and the Gypsy flamenco players probably related to it, because they also left their homes to find a new life. It's a male dance form.
|
|
|
"Camino del Darro" is a granadinas, a typical (folkloric) style from Granada. Its the name of the river and also the narrow alleyway that goes up to the Sacramonte, the gypsy neighborhood outside the city. This style of flamenco is so familiar that everyone will recognize it.
|
|
|
"Cadiz y Badajoz" is a tanguillos, an older kind of Spanish tango rhythm. I chose that name because part of that form is based on music of Cadiz and part from Extremadura, the section of Spain that borders Portugal. The music has a slight Portuguese influence.
|
|
|
"Paternera" The modern name of this form is petenera. Legend says there was a beautiful woman singer from Paterna de la Ribera (province of Cadiz) who was called Paternera because she came from that town. A lot of men fell in love with her and fought among themselves when they could not have her. Superstition says it's bad luck to play this form.
|
