May 30, 2025
Flamenco Fridays Antonio Rey
Taranta is a form of canto jondo, a type of flamenco song, that features a free-form rhythm and a characteristic F# Phrygian mode. It’s known for its expressive singing and virtuosic guitar playing, often depicting themes of mining life, work, and social struggles.
Key characteristics of Taranta:
- Form: A toque libre (free form) in singing, with the rhythm created by the interplay between the singer and guitarist.
- Mode: Typically based on the F# Phrygian mode, with the singer often sliding down from F# to F and back to F#.
- Content: Often deals with themes of work, particularly in mines, and social issues.
- Guitar Technique: Features arpeggios, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and the arrastre technique (a quick, successive drag of the right-hand ring finger across the strings).
- Rhythmic Structure: While not strictly metered, it has a distinct rhythmic feel, often with a strong emphasis on the first beat of the bar.
- Lyrics: Usually consists of couplets with 4 or 5 octosyllabic verses.
- Guitar accompaniment: The guitarist often plays a chordal accompaniment, sometimes using dissonant open strings, to create a unique sound.
- Dance: While Taranta is sung and played, it’s not traditionally danced.