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Flamenco Forms
Guajira
by Susana
Navalón
Translated by Yasha
Maccanico
(From guajiro, white Cuban farmer, and a popular song that is common among them).
It is therefore a cante de ida y vuelta (conjunction of styles
that were created in Spain, travelled to the Americas with Spanish
migrants, where they were influenced by Hispanic American folk
music, before returning to Spain and being influenced, in turn,
by flamenco music) whose origins lie in Cuban folk tradition. It
is a very happy and rhythmic style. Its lyrics mainly evoke Havana
and its inhabitants, and it adopts the rhythm of the punto cubano,
a musical style that was taken from Cuba to the Canary Islands,
where it blended with indigenous elements. Pepe Marchena is responsible
for a large portion of the richness of its melody. It was very
fashionable in the thirties and forties, and it was used to accompany
the dance which is known by the same name and has now practically
disappeared. |
|  It is characterised by light punteados de pies and by its intimate character,
suitable for lounges.
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| Dance |
The origins of this dance lie in the first half of the twentieth century, accompanied
by the cante (style of song) that bears its same name.
It is characterised by light punteados de pies (a kind
of percussion using the feet) and its intimate character,
suitable for lounges. It alternates a 6/8 and a 3/4
meter:
1 2
3 4 5
6 7 8
9 10 11
12
It can also be measured like this:
1 2
3 1 2
3 1 2
1 2
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| Guitar |
It is always executed in major keys. It possesses a very concise rhythm which
means that when it is being danced making rhythmic combinations
of sounds with the heels, the guitar accompaniment is
devoid of falsetas (variations, or melodic phrases interspersed
between successions of chords) and only involves rasgueos
(strumming). It is always played in the middle although
it can be played in whatever key one prefers. Its key
is:
LA – E seventh |
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| Its lyrics basically refer to Havana and its inhabitants, or to themes of love
and nostalgia. |
| Singing |
It is a cante aflamencado (lit. flamencoised; that is, experienced changes as
a result of the influence of flamenco) originating
in Cuban folk tradition with coplas (poetic compositions,
in verse, used as lyrics) made up of ten eight-syllable
verses. Its lyrics basically refer to Havana and its
inhabitants, or to themes of love and nostalgia. Several
experts believe that this cante should actually be
called punto cubano, as it already existed in Cuba
under this name. It experienced its main period of
expansion in the late twenties and the thirties of
the last century, and was sometimes accompanied by
a dance that shared its name and which, at present,
has practically fallen into disuse. Its most popular
version is the one by Pepe Marchena. |
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| Get to know the flamenco forms |
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Getting
started in flamenco
What is meant by cante jondo, duende, jondura, quejío, garbo…?
Everything you need to know to get started in flamenco.
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You
can start dancing straight away
Finding a jersey, skirt, fan, or dance school is easier than
you think: the technique can be learnt, but only you can put
the magic into it.
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Flamencoing
in Madrid
Madrid is undoubtedly the flamenco capital: schools, tablaos,
taverns, bars and festivals. Everything that you mustn´t miss
out on.
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Choose
the best skirt
The skirt shapes your figure and highlights your movements.
Here you can learn how to pick the one that suits you best.
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Paso
a Paso.
Flamenco Forms
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