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- Identity: the
building blocks of
2. Literature
and philosophy
3. Art and
architecture
4. Performing
arts
5. Cinema
and fashion
6. Media and
communications
7. Food and drink 8. Living culture:
the details of
Deep and meaningful: finding the realflamenco
If you come across a handful of blokes in a dark bar
in Jerez, one tapping an unfathomable rhythm on the
table, another clapping, a third man playing the guitar,
gurning in concentration, and a fourth wailing, his
parched, straining voice possibly untroubled by tuning,
then you’re probably experiencingflamenco, the
genuine article.This iscante jondo(deep voice).
Feel free to shoutole!when the mood takes you
(the spontaneous whoops are known asjaleos). Other,
myriad types have evolved from this pure breed over
the last two centuries.The different forms offlamenco,
referred to aspalos, number well over 50. Some are
simply unaccompanied songs; others feature a guitar or
dancers. Some are specific to female singers, some to
male. Each has its own – often extraordinarily hard to
learn – rhythm, the kind of thing that can take years to master.Palosare
sometimes grouped under two main headings, based on different songs,
but don’t expect anyone to agree on what fits where in the two categories:
Cante jondo (or cante grande)
The aforementionedflamencoof purists is an angst-fed affair. Don’t
expect chirpy ditties. Within thejondoschool residepaloslike thetonás,
performed a capella, and thesoleá, sung pretty much ad lib to the
accompaniment of a guitar.Thesiguiriyasform is renowned as particularly
complex, taking years to master. At its best,jondocan be a gripping affair,
with the singer, emotionally wrecked, carried from the stage at the end.
Cante chico
A less intense, newer form of the kind that sometimes includes polka
dot-dressed dancers and the like.Thealegríahas a famous studied dance,
while thebuleríaunfurls at breakneck speed. Purists frown, but some of
thecante chico palosfurthest fromcante jondo(and which some claim
aren’tflamencoat all), notably thesevillanasandmalagueña(they tend to
be named after the towns of origin), are hugely popular.
Flamenco’sholy trinity
Flamencocomprises three
basic elements:cante
(song),baile(dance)
andtoque(guitar). Not
all forms feature all
three elements, but for
flamencoproper thecante
is always central. Indeed,
the guitar was only added
toflamencoin the early
19 thcentury, and dance
thrown in even later. In
most versions offlamenco
the dancing is largely
improvised. And, contrary
to popular misconception,
castanets are rarely used
in the real thing.
