Cante flamenco
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The cante flamenco (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkante flaˈmeŋko]), meaning "flamenco singing", is one of the three main components of flamenco, along with toque (playing the guitar) and baile (dance). Because the dancer is front and center in a flamenco performance, foreigners often assume the dance is the most important aspect of the art form — in fact, it is the cante which is the heart and soul of the genre. A cante singer is a cantaor or cantaora.
The cante flamenco is part of musical tradition in the
Flamenco developed into its definitive form during its
Types of cante
There are many variants of cantes or palos (song forms), each expressing a unique emotion (which shares noticeable resemblance to Indian classical music). The flamenco songs of today may be classified into one of three categories: cante grande, cante intermedio or cante chico.
Cante Grande
Also known as
The singer who sings seguiriyas leaves in each line of the
copla (verse of cante) a piece of his soul; and, if not, he is deceiving the listener, perhaps even himself. If there is one style to which the singer has to give everything, has to give every bit of himself, it is the siguiriya. I have seen José Menese completely overcome, broken, a literal wreck after doing this song and I believe that if the singer sometimes reaches the kind of state of grace that the Gypsies call duende- and I don't know yet what that is - it is in these unique and unrepeatable moments.— Ángel Álvaro Caballero, Historia del Cante Flamenco
Sample Seguiria describing anguish in Caló, Spanish and English:
Caló | Andalusian | English |
---|---|---|
Ducas tenela min dai | Penas tiene mi mare | My mother has her troubles |
ducas tenelo yo | penas tengo yo | and I have mine |
las de min dai yo sieno | y las que siento son las de mi mare | my mother's are the ones I feel |
las de mangue no. | que las mis no. | not my own. |
Cante Intermedio
Meaning "intermediate," this form is less profound but also moving, sometimes containing an oriental cast to the music. The term (between cante chico and cante grande that is) varies according to who is singing and describing the "cante intermedio".
Cante Chico
Literally meaning "little song," this form of cante sings of lighter subjects including love, bawdy humor and happiness to the accompaniment of the flamenco guitar. Festive forms of cante chico include forms such as the alegrías, bulerías and tangos.
Other classifications of cante flamenco
Cante Gitano
Cante gitano (or the "Gypsy song") refers to the original songs believed to be developed by Gypsies who immigrated in the 15th century. These include the toná, soleá, seguiriya, tango and buleria.
Cante Andaluz
Cante andaluz began to spread during the middle of the 19th century, and is a combination of other forms of folkloric music from Andalusia which demonstrate a definite influence of Gypsy flamenco music. Cante andaluz genres include the many variations of the fandango and cantinas.
Cantes Folklóricos Aflamencados
The styles of cantes folklóricos aflamencados are forms of cante that are not considered to be true forms of flamenco by the purists. Examples of these styles include the , as well as South America which have been slightly influenced by traditional flamenco forms.
Lorqueña
Lorqueña is a "aflamencado" that has been made from certain ancient folk songs based on the poems of
Titles
- En el café de Chinitas ('At Chinitas Cafe')
- Anda jaleo ('Come Rise Up')
- Esquilones de Plata ('Silver Bells')
Famous cantaores
El Planeta (Antonio Fernández)
Although concrete information about El Planeta is scarce, it is thought he was born around 1770 in
El Fillo (Francisco Ortega Vargas)
Born around 1820 in
Silverio Franconetti Aguilar
Born 1829, Silverio Franaconnetti was born in
La Niña De Los Peines (Pastora María Pavón Cruz)
Born in Seville in 1890, La Niña de Los Peines is regarded by some as the most exceptional and innovative female flamenco singer of all time. Affectionately called "La Niña," she was known for her interpretation of the tangos, and was often requested to sing siguiriyas at a time when women did not customarily perform it.
Manolo Caracol (Manuel Ortega Juárez)
Manolo Caracol came from an exalted Gypsy dynasty which to this day remains legendary in the arenas of both flamenco and bullfighting. Born in Seville in 1909, it is commonly believed that his ancestral lineage included both El Planeta and El Fillo. Caracol won the prestigious first prize at the Cante Jondo Competition (in 1922) at the age of only 13. During the Spanish Civil War he worked in theaters to survive. Caracol claimed his style of singing was unique. He is remembered for his capacity to evoke overwhelming passions from his listeners. Caracol frequently performed with full orchestras or pianos (much to the harsh remarks made by the purists). Caracol died at the age of sixty-four in 1973 Madrid.
Camarón de la Isla (José Monje Cruz)
Other famous singers of cante
There are many more famous and influential flamenco singers, including:
- Manuel Agujetas
- La Repompa de Malaga
- Rafael de Utrera
- Potito
- Remedios Amaya
- Diego Carrasco
- La Paquera de Jerez
- Antonio Mairena
- Diego El Cigala
- Enrique El Mellizo
- Antonio Chacon
- Manuel Torre
- Enrique El Granaino
- Pepe de Lucía
- Estrella Morente
- Lola Flores (some do not consider her a flamenco singer, although she did sing)
- Fosforito
- Lebrijano
- La Perla de Cadiz
- Terremoto de Jerez
- El Chocolate
- Manolo Leiva
- Duquende
- Pepe Marchena
- Chano Lobato
- José Mercé (who, like Camarón, started singing flamenco and then added new elements)
- Antonio Molina
- Niña Pastori
- Mayte Martín
- Juan Valderrama
- Rocio Jurado
See also
- Glossary of flamenco terms
- Federico Garcia Lorca
- Flamenco Chill
- Flamenco guitar
- Paco de Lucia
- Palo (flamenco)
- New Flamenco
- Spanish translation in the Golden Age
- Category:Music of Andalusia
References
- ^ Thomas, Samuel. "Correlates between Berber and Flamenco Rhythms". Academia.edu. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ "Soliloquios Flamencos: LORQUEÑAS Y ZORONGO". Soliloquiosflamencos.blogspot.com. 2011-01-13. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- ^ "Hosting Averroes ha sido clausurado". Juntadeandalucia.es. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- ^ "Documento sin título". Pepeportillo.eu. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- ^ Delgado, Pedro (2012-11-06). "FELIPE LARA ( 43 ) Lorqueña por bulería". Pedelgom.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
Sources
- ALVAREZ CABALLERO, Angel: Historia del Cante Flamenco, Alianza Editorial, Madrid, 1981.
- GARCIA LORCA, Federico: In Search of Duende. Edition by Christopher Maurer. New Direction Books, New York, 1998.
- TOTTON, Robin: Song of the Outcast - An Introduction to Flamenco, Amadeus Press, Oregon, 2003.
External links
English links
- Cante...The Song
- Centro Flamenco Archived 2018-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
- World Music Central