THE SWEETEST

MELANCHOLY
Discussions on Flamenco Music

WHAT IS FLAMENCO

A hybrid between traditional Andalusian music, Gypsie music, Arabic music and Moorish
music.

BASIC TERMINOLOGIES

Cante: Bularia, Tientos, Tangos, Alegria, Soleares etc.

Copla (verses or stanzas) (a collection of repertoire known by performers)

Comps: rhythmic framework: mostly in 12/8

Duende: The Soul/ spirit/passion.

llamada : A call

Palmas (types of handclapping): palmas sordas, which accompanies slow cantes; palmas
claras, which accompanies fast cantes or escobillas

Escobilla (fast/happy section)

BULERIA

Some cantes are performed solely for singing purposes: tans, cante del campo y de
labor (work songs)

Others are accompanied by dancing: tientos, alegrias, farruca, soleares, buleria etc.

Traditionally, Buleria functions as a sort of encore to other cantes.

Very cheerful: requires dancers, singers, palmas and guitarists to take turns in dancing.

It is characterized by expressive facial expressions: happiness, making funny faces,

arrogant faces etc.

The fun and expressive nature of buleria is its ultimate character.

It takes after the comps of the parent cante

THE BULERIA COMPS

Alegra rhythmic model:

(Likely resulting bulera models:

12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

(underlined beats are stressed beats)

HARMONY IN BULERIA

Its mostly in A phrygian ( as oppossed to the majority of cantes in E phrygian i.e.

Soleares)

CURRENT MATTERS

Flamenco aficionados believe that the form has been watered down: it has lost its
function and now it just serves as a form of entertainment to tourists and a commercial
commodity.

This has prompted the establishment of private flamenco peas (exclusive clubs). The
point of this is to cultivate and preserve the Andalusian suffering as greatly displayed in
flamenco music.

MACARENA RONEO