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Some observations and a cante question or 2.
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Phil
Posts: 382
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Rota, Spain
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Some observations and a cante questi...
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There’s a common misconception among many foreign guitarists (including me, until recently) that Soleas are always played in E Phrygian (aka ‘por arriba’), and that if played in A Phrygian (aka ‘por medio’) it’s automatically a Bulerias por Solea or Solea por Bulerias (they’re exactly the same thing). The reality is that Soleas are routinely played in both keys according to the needs of the singer and the desires of the guitarist, who may not want (or be able) to play por arriba if he has to put the cejilla on the 8th or 9th fret. This is not my opinion, it's an observation of what occurs. This interchangeability of playing positions is also true of Fandangos, Alegrias, and Bulerias . What I find curious (and I could be wrong) is that this interchangeability of playing positions doesn’t appear to hold true for other palos. For example, I’ve never seen a Siguiriya played in anything other than A Phrygian (not counting cabales and machos in A Major). Has anyone ever heard it played in E Phyigian? Except for those mentioned, most of the palos seem to strictly stick to their respective traditional playing positions. Now, I have to admit something. I often can’t tell the difference between a fast Solea and a Buleria por Solea. Can anyone tell me how to distinguish between the two? I know the differences are primarily in the cante, but what exactly are those differences? I have a CD with Morao accompanying Terremoto, there are 2 Soleas and a Bulerias por Solea all played por medio, and I can’t tell the difference. Can anybody address this? Thanks, Phil
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Sep. 28 2003 0:05:23
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Phil
Posts: 382
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Rota, Spain
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RE: Some observations and a cante qu... (in reply to Phil)
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Thanks for your input Michael. Michael Cho said, quote:
Others will tell you that the solea por bulerias is a fast solea, while a bulerias por solea is a slow bulerias. I think it's generally accepted that SpB and BpS are two ways of saying exactly the same thing. Someone once tried to make the point that if the letras are Bulerias than it's a BpS and vice-versa, but that argument doesn't hold up because the same letras are often sung por Soleas and por Bulerias. But anyway, my question is what distinguishes a BpS cante from a plain old Solea cante? The problem that one encounter's when asking about such things is that the anwers that you get are often made up on the spot. In other words, the person doesn't really know the real answer so they just tell you something so they don't have to admit that they don't know the answer. This happens all the time, especially in Andalucia. I was watching a TV program in a bar one day and a singer was about to sing something. The announcer said she was going to sing a Malagueñas. Well, she sang a Verdiales or another Fandango abandolao (I really don't know the difference). I commented to the bartender that she wasn't singing a Malaqueñas, but possibly some form of Fandango Abandolao and that maybe the announcer meant to say a Fandango de Malaga. The bartender looked at me and said, "She's singing a Malagueñas. It's just that the guitarist doesn't know how to play a Malagueñas." Well, I can assure you that the guitarist knew what he was doing and that the bartender knows far less about Flamenco than anyone on this forum, but there's no way I was going to argue with him. I would have never convinced him that he was wrong and a "guiri" was right. Phil
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Sep. 28 2003 21:23:25
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zata
Posts: 659
Joined: Jul. 17 2003
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RE: Some observations and a cante qu... (in reply to Phil)
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What a lot of misinformation is getting thrown around...I hardly know where to begin. Some key points, and be advised that I never present opinion as fact: 1) Soleá por bulería, bulería por soleá and bulería pa' escuchar are all one in the same cante. There are no more than four or five styles and yes, they represent a separate and distinct cante *and toque*...anyone who says otherwise hasn't learned to tell the difference so finds it convenient to say it's the same as soleá. The distinction is not helped by the fact that many singers mix soleá por bulería with soleá, most notably Fernanda and Bernarda de Utrera. The tempo is never an indicator...soleá can be fast, soleá por bulería can be slow. The marching strum of the latter might give the impression of speed. The person who said that these cantes used to simply be called "soleá" in some places is right, and I've heard this from many oldtimers. The new terminology came in gradually and wasn't widespread until the early sixties. Characteristics of this cante: While soleá nearly always (but not always!) has a 4-line verse, soleá por bulería is nearly always 3. Half compases are liberally employed by the singer, including interjections such as "mare de mi alma", "gitana mala" and the like, which reinforces the feeling of half-compases. The guitarist keeps to 12 no matter what, unlike in bulerías where he may indulge in sixes. 2) Positions. No cante is dependant on any specific position. Traditionally certain postions were used for years, with associated falsetas that kept a certain sound. Nowadays the whole thing is wide open musically...the only thing that matters is that the singer be in a comfortable tone, but with cejillas the guitarist can play in a wide range of positions. Juan Talega sang siguiriya por arriba. Some singers voices just don't fit certain positions because the guitarist would have to play on the tenth or eleventh fret. Singers who don't play guitar couldn't care less what position you play in, and there are simply no guidelines. 3) There are a number of malagueñas that are traditionally accompanied with abandolao strum (like verdiales) as opposed to free-style. The malagueñas of Concha la Peñaranda, Juan Breva and Frasquito Yerbagüena are the most famous that come to mind, the latter commonly used to finish off malagueñas. Unless you know cante, it just sounds like verdiales. Estela 'Zata'
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Sep. 30 2003 11:33:40
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