July 25, 2025

Flamenco Fridays Sabicas

Key Characteristics of Tientos:
  • Tempo: Slow, four-count rhythm, often described as a “tango tiento”. 
  • Structure: Follows a typical flamenco structure including guitar intro, song intro, footwork sections (escobilla), and letras (verses). 
  • Transition: A characteristic feature of Tientos is its transition into Tangos, often after the escobilla sections, as the music speeds up. 
  • Mood: Tientos typically evoke a more melancholic or introspective mood compared to the livelier Tangos. 
  • Singing: The lyrics in Tientos often explore themes of love, loss, and other deep emotions. 
  • Dance: Tientos is a danced palo, with the dancer responding to the rhythm and mood of the music. 
  • Musical Mode: Tientos, like many other flamenco forms, utilizes the Phrygian mode.