A flamenco style in 2/4 and 4/4 time - the time signature that underlies the majority of musical styles around the world.
As for flamenco tangos, some academics affirm that they originate from Cuba, thus (to paraphrase Enrique Morente) closing the "África-Cuba-Cai" triangle. This would imply, then, that the flamenco style originated in Cadiz - thanks to those cross-cultural 'ida y vuelta' exchanges with the Caribbean isle, the music made the round trip, along with other styles like rumbas, guajiras and colombianas. And back home Enrique el Mellizo was the one who set the ball rolling.
In addition, Triana and Granada (with the Malaga variant championed by El Piyayo) are also on the tangos map, and Andalucía's neighbor Extremadura also made fine contributions.
Other legendary names who made the tango their own include Frijones from Jerez, Titi de Triana and, of course, cantaora La Niña de los Peines from Seville, who took her stage name from a tangos lyric.
Together with the bulería, this is the upbeat "festero" style par excellence. And thanks to its flexibility, it's become a centerpiece of so-called 'nuevo flamenco'.
The dance style is said to originate at the same time, and nineteenth century texts speak of "baile de negros" as a synonym. Tangos are, then, a sensual dance style, with popular origins, made great by flamenco figures from the Seville school. On many occasions, vocalist and dancer are one and the same.
It's not unusual to see cantaoras like Remedios Amaya, Esperanza Fernández, Aurora Vargas and La Macanita embellishing their own vocal performances of tangos with a few steps between verses.
Tientos
Tientos are slowed-down tangos, with a more solemn feel to them, which appeared between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th.
Normally the cantaor kicks off with tientos, a style that gives him an opportunity to demonstrate his vocal prowess, and winds up 'por tangos', providing a striking contrast.
Great performers of tientos included Enrique el Mellizo, Antonio Chacón, Pepe de la Matrona, Bernardo el de los Lobitos and La Niña de los Peines.
Currently cantaores such as José Menese and Esperanza Fernández are associated with this form.
Tanguillos
Tanguillos are a flamenco style originally from Cádiz, coming from carnival music. For that reason, some theoreticians situate them in the group of cantes originally from Andalusian folklore, like sevillanas and peteneras.
According to theoreticians, the time of the tanguillos is the result of the combination of 6x8 time and 2x4 time. But it is also accepted to be 3x4 time. And there are those who propose that it is simply 4x4 time, just like tangos and tientos, but faster. The lyrics always allude to satirical, ironic and festive subjects.
The genuine maestro of cante por tanguillos is Chano Lobato, who keeps all the essence alive of old-time tanguillos taken to flamenco by his predecessors such as that of Los Anticuarios, which dates back to 1905.
Once passed through the molds and arrangements of today"s flamenco, it joins bulerías, tangos, rumbas and alegrías in the group of festive flamenco, with plenty of forms and styles.
Cantaores such as Potito and Duquende have cultivated it on their latest albums.
Of course, tanguillos are danceable. Bailaores such as Sara Baras and Isabel Bayón choreograph and dance them in their shows.
And on guitar, there are famous scores like "Casilda" by Paco de Lucía, "Aroma de libertad" by Cañizares and "Vapor de Cai" by Juan Diego.
The more heterodox forms are proposed by musicians such as Diego Amador on piano, Jorge Pardo on sax and Ojos de Brujo in hip-hop mode.
Published in www.flamenco-world.com
