Flamenco: Pasado y Presente

‘Caleras del Prado’ is a danceable composition that finds its roots in the melodies of one of the purest forms of Andalusian folk music, the cante jondo (the ‘deep’ or ‘profound’ song). It is played in a 12-beat solea por bulerias, a toque that combines the standard chord patterns associated with the solea with the upbeat pulse of a bulerias. The solea, with 12 beats (accented on 3, 6, 8, 10 & 12), is known as one of the most fundamental toques in flamenco guitar playing, and is found in other styles of flamenco such as alegrias. Much like the origins of flamenco itself, the specific origins of the solea are also unidentified. However, due to its name ‘solea’, some believe it has connections to the Spanish Romani who used to sing while working on the ‘solear’ process of producing olives. Flamenco music is often passed down orally from one generation to the next. This would have happened wherever gatherings of people were found, such as the travelling fairs that popped up in the small villages of Seville, Andalusia. These fairs, being the most festive of all the Andalusian traditions, emerged centuries ago originally as livestock markets. They are still held today with various booths, managed by di?erent groups and brotherhoods. It was this shared joyous occasion and gathering of souls that inspired this composition.