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Flamenco Forms
Fandango
by Susana
Navalón
Translated by Yasha
Maccanico
(From the Portuguese fado, which means traditional dance and singing, and from
the Latin fatus, fate). It is a musical form that is characteristic
of Spanish folklore, which has experienced a process of aflamencamiento
(lit. flamencoisation; that is, changes that are undergone as a
result of the influence of flamenco) as it settled in a concrete
area that belongs to the province of Huelva. Although other varieties
of fandangos exist in different regions of Andalucía, the ones
from Huelva have certain special characteristics that set them
apart from the rest. |
|  It is essentially a form of dancing for couples with rotations that are typical
of courtship dances.
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| Dance |
It is a very old style of dancing, of a popular character, which has been progressively
acquiring the peculiar traits of flamenco. Essentially,
it is a dance for couples that has the rotations that
are typical of courtship dancing. However, it is not
very well known outside of the province of Huelva.
The meter is in three beats. The fandango is a basic
example of a ternary beat:
1
2 3 4
5 6 7
8 9 10 11
12
Some fandangos are not suitable for dancing. |
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| Guitar |
The fandango is bimodal, starting off in an Andalusian scale and then passing
over to the major scale, during the singing, to return
to the Andalusian scale for its conclusion. It was the
guitarist Niño Ricardo (Manuel Serrapí Sanchez, Sevilla,
1904-1972), who invented this form of accompaniment.
In the major mode sections that provide backing to the
singing, in many instances a system that is free of rhythm
is used to allow the cantaor to express himself without
any obstacles whatsoever. The guitarist often limits
himself to responding to the cantaor with the chords
that correspond to the tonality that the latter is delivering.
The basic keys are the following:
At the top: E – LA minor G – F – E
In the middle:
LA – D minor C – B flat - LA |
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| Although in the beginning it was a style of singing for dancing, at present several
of its variations are songs that are only for listening. |
| Singing |
Although in the beginning
it was a cante (style of song) for dancing, at present
many of its variations are songs that are only for listening.
The themes are usually of a sententious nature, some carrying
important socio-political messages or concerning amorous
themes. They can be sung with musical accompaniment or
“a palo seco” (sung straight, without accompaniment, a
capella), that is, striking a table with a closed fist
for the first section, and progressively opening out one's
fingers, rhythmically, during the next two sections.
The range of fandangos is immense although they can be
roughly divided into three main categories:
a) Regional fandangos (from Huelva, from Lucena, from
Málaga ...)
b) Personal fandangos, or those created by individuals
(the ones of El Gloria, Pérez de Guzmán, Vallejo, Cepero
...).
c) Malagueñas, rondeñas, granaínas and murcianas are
derived from fandangos.
Some of its early performers were El Niño de Cabra,
Rafael Pareja, Pérez de Guzmán, El Gloria, etc., but
it was Pepe Marchena who moved fandango away from its
classical regional moulds, earning it generalised popularity.
The path that Manolo Caracol followed is different although,
like Marchena's, it is of a personal nature, but full
of feelings and of gypsy jondura (depth, an attribute
to express solemnity, depth of feeling, a primitive
or archaic flavour). The coplas (poetic compositions,
in verse, used as lyrics) are made up of four or five
eight-syllable verses, which sometimes become six due
to the repetition of one of them.
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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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