Cartageneras
Encyclopedia
Cartageneras are a flamenco
palo
belonging to the category of the Cantes de las minas (in English, songs of the mines) or cantes minero-levantinos (eastern miner songs). As the rest of the songs in this category, it derives from older folkloric
fandango
styles. The origin of this particular style is attributed to traditional fandango from the miner area of Cartagena in the province of Murcia, in southern Spain
.
Although earlier singers like Rojo el Alpargatero contributed its development, it was Antonio Chacón
who determined its definite flamenco form and made it popular in other areas.
The stanza
of the Cartagenera is the usual for Fandango
. Originally, it was played in the same key and mode as the rest of fandangos. But since Ramón Montoya
(the usual Chacón's guitarist), all the Cantes de las minas started to be sung in the key of D major, modulating to F# phrygian
at the end of the stanza. The chord used for the F# is in fact a rare chord, formed with the notes (from the 6th to the 1st string) F#,D#,F#,G,B,E. It was also at this time that the cantes de las minas started to lose their abandolao rhythmic pattern to become cantes libres
(with no defined rhythmic pattern).
This palo contains a short list of cantes. Only two or three (depending on the authors) are classified under this name.
MARTÍN SALAZAR, Jorge: Los cantes flamencos, Diputación Provincial de Granada
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
palo
Palo
Palo may refer to:*Palo , developed by slaves from Central Africa in Cuba*Palos, long drums used in the music of the Dominican Republic*Palo , the name for a musical form in flamenco*Palo , a Mallorcan liqueurPlaces...
belonging to the category of the Cantes de las minas (in English, songs of the mines) or cantes minero-levantinos (eastern miner songs). As the rest of the songs in this category, it derives from older folkloric
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
fandango
Fandango
Fandango is a lively couple's dance, usually in triple metre, traditionally accompanied by guitars and castanets or hand-clapping . Fandango can both be sung and danced. Sung fandango is usually bipartite: it has an instrumental introduction followed by "variaciones"...
styles. The origin of this particular style is attributed to traditional fandango from the miner area of Cartagena in the province of Murcia, in southern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Although earlier singers like Rojo el Alpargatero contributed its development, it was Antonio Chacón
Antonio Chacón
Antonio Chacón was a Spanish flamenco singer [cantaor].Chacón began earning a living by performing flamenco around 1884. He toured Andalucia with his two friends, the Molina brothers - dancer Antonio Molina, and guitarist Javier Molina. He was later hired by Silverio Franconetti for his café in...
who determined its definite flamenco form and made it popular in other areas.
The stanza
Stanza
In poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger poem. In modern poetry, the term is often equivalent with strophe; in popular vocal music, a stanza is typically referred to as a "verse"...
of the Cartagenera is the usual for Fandango
Fandango
Fandango is a lively couple's dance, usually in triple metre, traditionally accompanied by guitars and castanets or hand-clapping . Fandango can both be sung and danced. Sung fandango is usually bipartite: it has an instrumental introduction followed by "variaciones"...
. Originally, it was played in the same key and mode as the rest of fandangos. But since Ramón Montoya
Ramón Montoya
Ramón Montoya , Flamenco guitarist and composer.Born into a family of Gitano cattle traders, Ramón Montoya used earnings from working in the trade to buy his first guitar...
(the usual Chacón's guitarist), all the Cantes de las minas started to be sung in the key of D major, modulating to F# phrygian
Phrygian mode
The Phrygian mode can refer to three different musical modes: the ancient Greek tonos or harmonia sometimes called Phrygian, formed on a particular set octave species or scales; the Medieval Phrygian mode, and the modern conception of the Phrygian mode as a diatonic scale, based on the latter...
at the end of the stanza. The chord used for the F# is in fact a rare chord, formed with the notes (from the 6th to the 1st string) F#,D#,F#,G,B,E. It was also at this time that the cantes de las minas started to lose their abandolao rhythmic pattern to become cantes libres
Cantes libres
Cantes libres is a Spanish expression that literally means free songs. It is applied any flamenco palos in which there is no recognisable metre or rhythmic pattern...
(with no defined rhythmic pattern).
This palo contains a short list of cantes. Only two or three (depending on the authors) are classified under this name.
Sources
ÁLVAREZ CABALLERO, Ángel: La discoteca ideal del flamenco, Planeta, 1995MARTÍN SALAZAR, Jorge: Los cantes flamencos, Diputación Provincial de Granada