Cantiñas
Encyclopedia
The Cantiñas is a group of flamenco
palos (musical forms), originated in the area of Cádiz
in Andalusia
(although some styles of cantiña have developed in the province of Seville
). They share the same compás or rhythmic pattern
with the soleá and are usually sung in a lively rhythm (between 120 and 160 beats per minute). They are normally sung in a major mode and have a festive mood.
The usual chord positions for the tonic chord in the guitar are those of E major, C major and, occasionally, A major, the latter usually reserved for solo guitar pieces. The chord progression
is normally of the simple tonic-dominant type, although modern guitar players introduce other transitional chords.
The palos classified under this group are:
The main verse
has four eight-syllable lines. They frequently also include a small refrain
with three five-syllable lines.
Their popularity increased at the time of the flamenco cafés cantante
that became the centre of professional flamenco performances from the mid 19th century to the 1920s. Originally, this songs were intended as support for dance.
Reference recordings for this palos are those by Chano Lobato
, Aurelio Sellé, Manolo Vargas and La Perla de Cádiz for the Cádiz styles; Bernarda de Utrera and Fernanda de Utrera for the Pinini styles; Curro de Utrera for the "alegrías de Córdoba" or Antonio Chacón
for the "caracoles". La Niña de los Peines
is also an important reference for all these styles. Some modern singers who have recorded excellent versions of this styles are Camarón de la Isla
, Carmen Linares
or Mayte Martín
.
ÁLVAREZ CABALLERO, Ángel: La discoteca ideal del flamenco, Planeta, 1995
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
palos (musical forms), originated in the area of Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
in Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
(although some styles of cantiña have developed in the province of Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
). They share the same compás or rhythmic pattern
Rhythm
Rhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
with the soleá and are usually sung in a lively rhythm (between 120 and 160 beats per minute). They are normally sung in a major mode and have a festive mood.
The usual chord positions for the tonic chord in the guitar are those of E major, C major and, occasionally, A major, the latter usually reserved for solo guitar pieces. The chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
is normally of the simple tonic-dominant type, although modern guitar players introduce other transitional chords.
The palos classified under this group are:
- AlegríasAlegríasAlegrías is a flamenco palo or musical form, which has a rhythm consisting of 12 beats. It is similar to Soleares. Its beat emphasis is as follows: 1 2 [3] 4 5 [6] 7 [8] 9 [10] 11 [12]. Alegrías originated in Cádiz. Alegrías belongs to the group of palos called Cantiñas and it is usually played in...
- Romeras
- CaracolesCaracolesThe Caracol people are an English-based creole speaking people who have been established in Northern Honduras since the early 19th century and are mainly of European British-Caribbean descent...
- Mirabrás
- Other cantiñas, including the "cantiñas de Pinini" (or "cantiñas de UtreraUtreraUtrera is a municipality in south-west Spain. It is in the province of Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. As of 2008 it has a population close to 50,202....
), "cantiña del contrabandista", "cantes de las Mirris" or "alegríasAlegríasAlegrías is a flamenco palo or musical form, which has a rhythm consisting of 12 beats. It is similar to Soleares. Its beat emphasis is as follows: 1 2 [3] 4 5 [6] 7 [8] 9 [10] 11 [12]. Alegrías originated in Cádiz. Alegrías belongs to the group of palos called Cantiñas and it is usually played in...
de CórdobaCórdoba, Spain-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
".
The main verse
Stanza
In poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger poem. In modern poetry, the term is often equivalent with strophe; in popular vocal music, a stanza is typically referred to as a "verse"...
has four eight-syllable lines. They frequently also include a small refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
with three five-syllable lines.
Their popularity increased at the time of the flamenco cafés cantante
Café-chantant
Café chantant is a type of musical establishment associated with the belle époque in France. Although there is much overlap of definition with cabaret, music hall, vaudeville, etc. the café chantant was originally an outdoor café where small groups of performers performed popular music for the...
that became the centre of professional flamenco performances from the mid 19th century to the 1920s. Originally, this songs were intended as support for dance.
Reference recordings for this palos are those by Chano Lobato
Chano Lobato
Chano Lobato was a Spanish flamenco singer.Born in the Santa María neighborhood of Cadiz, he began performing at nightclubs in his hometown and later moved to Madrid, where he joined Alejandro Vega's Flamenco dance group...
, Aurelio Sellé, Manolo Vargas and La Perla de Cádiz for the Cádiz styles; Bernarda de Utrera and Fernanda de Utrera for the Pinini styles; Curro de Utrera for the "alegrías de Córdoba" or Antonio Chacón
Antonio Chacón
Antonio Chacón was a Spanish flamenco singer [cantaor].Chacón began earning a living by performing flamenco around 1884. He toured Andalucia with his two friends, the Molina brothers - dancer Antonio Molina, and guitarist Javier Molina. He was later hired by Silverio Franconetti for his café in...
for the "caracoles". La Niña de los Peines
La Niña de los Peines
Pastora Pavón Cruz, known as La Niña de los Peines , is considered the most important woman flamenco singer of the 20th century. She was a sister of singers Arturo Pavón and Tomás Pavón, also an important flamenco singer, and aunt to Arturo Pavón, the first flamenco pianist...
is also an important reference for all these styles. Some modern singers who have recorded excellent versions of this styles are Camarón de la Isla
Camarón de la Isla
Camarón de la Isla , was the stage name of a spanish flamenco singer José Monje Cruz who is sometimes also credited as Camarón de la Isla....
, Carmen Linares
Carmen Linares
Carmen Linares is the stage name of Carmen Pacheco Rodríguez. Born in 1951 in Linares, Jaén Province, she is known as one of the finest flamenco singers in Spain.She came to Madrid with her family in 1965...
or Mayte Martín
Mayte Martín
Mayte Martín . Flamenco cantaora , bolero singer, and composer. She is widely recognized as one of the most important flamenco voices of her generation...
.
Sources
MARTÍN SALAZAR, Jorge: Los cantes flamencos, Diputación Provincial de GranadaÁLVAREZ CABALLERO, Ángel: La discoteca ideal del flamenco, Planeta, 1995