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The Double Bass as a Solo Voice in Flamenco

Music
Jeffery M. Utter
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected]

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THE DOUBLE BASS AS A SOLO VOICE IN FLAMENCO MUSIC

by

Jeffery Utter

A DOCTORAL DOCUMENT

Presented to the Faculty of

The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska
In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements
For the Degree of Doctor of Musical Arts

Major: Music

Under the Supervision of Professor Hans Sturm

Lincoln, Nebraska

March, 2015
 DOUBLE BASS AS A SOLO VOICE IN FLAMENCO MUSIC

Jeffery M. Utter, D.M.A.

University of Nebraska, 2015

Advisor: Hans Sturm

Flamenco music is an emotional and energetic art form that has developed naturally

over centuries by Gypsy people of Spain, primarily in the area known as Andalusia.

Historically the music has been solely transmitted aurally and generally not accessible to

formally trained musicians. The double bass is a versatile instrument that maintains roles in

nearly all genres of music with flamenco being an exception until recently. Even with the

contemporary addition of bass to flamenco music, the role of the double bass has been

purely accompanimental. This document; through transcription, analysis, and arrangement,

presents flamenco music in a way that it can be approached by classically trained double

bassists, assuming the role of the primary voice in the music.

This document includes three transcriptions in the appendices. Each transcription is

accompanied by a brief description of the piece, including analysis of the flamenco guitar or

vocal techniques which the piece adapts for bass. Additionally, this document provides

necessary contextual information.

Chapter 1 includes a description of the pieces as well as a brief definition of ‘flamenco’.

This is followed by contextual information on the origins of flamenco music as well as the

historical and contemporary roles of the double bass in flamenco music in Chapter 2. The

following chapter; Chapter 3, discusses the musical elements that make up flamenco,

including specific techniques employed by voice and guitar in this style. Finally, Chapter 4

addresses the techniques and strategies involved in performing flamenco music on the

double bass with specific technical adaptations for integrating vocal and guitar techniques.
 This document is intended to provide the reader with the tools necessary to approach

flamenco music in its traditional form as a classically trained double bassist. Its purpose is to

provide the reader with the necessary background and tools to translate this primarily vocal

and guitar focused music to the double bass.

 iv

Acknowledgements

I would like to express a sincere and genuine thank-you to the following individuals who

have helped me in this project: my doctoral committee; Dr. Karen Becker, Dr. Hendrick Van

den Berg, Dr. Eric Richards, and Dr. Hans Sturm–your guidance, feedback, and support is

wholly appreciated.

Special thanks are due to Dr. Hans Sturm, the chair of my committee and my double

bass teacher. Your excitement for the double bass, your pedagogical wit and sense of humor

have given been a major inspiration in my musical life. I deeply appreciate all of the

guidance you have given me throughout my studies at UNL.

Lastly, I would like to thank my family. My wife, Rebecca Bumgarner, has been

immeasurably supportive and encouraging throughout my studies at UNL. Also, my parents

and my brother who have been there for me from the start, from a small town in up state

New York, to half way across the country in Lincoln, Nebraska.

 v
Table of Contents

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
List of Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

Chapter 1. Introduction 1
Flamenco Technique vs. Flamenco Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Chapter 2. History 4
Origins of Flamenco Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The Golden Age of Flamenco Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Historical Role of the Bass in Flamenco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Contemporary Role of the Double Bass in Flamenco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Chapter 3. Elements of Flamenco Music 12

Song Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Flamenco Vocal Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Flamenco Guitar Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Chapter 4. Adapting Flamenco Music For the Double Bass 20

Application of Flamenco Vocal Style to the Double Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Application of Flamenco Guitar Style to the Double Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Chapter 5. Conclusion 26

Appendix A. Pequeño vals Vienés 27

Appendix B. Con Salero y Garbo 32

Appendix C. Seguiriyas 41

Bibliography 49
 vi
List of Figures

2.1. Ramón Montoya - Malagueñas por Siguiriya Excerpt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2.2. Bass Arrangement - Malagueñas por Siguiriya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.3. Sabicas - “Punta y Tacon” Excerpt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.4. Bass Arrangement - “Punta y Tacon” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.5. Carles Benavent’s Bass Line from “Como el Agua” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.6. Jaco Pastorius’ Bass Line from “The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines” . . . . . 11

3.1. “Siempre por los Rincones” - Introduction Excerpt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

3.2. “Con Salero y Garbo” - Tremolo Excerpt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.3. Rasgueados Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

4.1. Microtonal excerpt from El Caramelos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

4.2. Traditional Left Hand Technique: Excerpt from Paco Peña seguiriyas . . . . 22
4.3. Rabbath Left Hand Technique: Excerpt from Paco Peña seguiriyas . . . . . . 22
4.4. Rasgueado Technique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

A.1. Pequeño vals Vienés . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

B.1. Con Salero y Garbo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

C.1. Seguiriyas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
 1

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Flamenco is a passionate genre of music with rich cultural and historical heritage that

has not been approached on the classical double bass. Traditionally, the instrumentation of

flamenco music has included guitar and voice, with a primary function of accompanying

dance. More recently, flamenco has been championed by the guitar, with the instrument

departing its accompanimental role and moving into the forefront.

The double bass is a versatile instrument with significant roles in many styles of music

including classical, jazz, rock, country, bluegrass, folk and others. However, flamenco is one

genre in which double bass has not historically contributed greatly. In the past twenty years

the role of electric bass, and to some extent double bass, has developed slightly as an

accompanimental voice. However, it still does not occupy a primary role.

The art form of flamenco music has a long history of aural transmission. There is

essentially no ‘composed’ flamenco music, in the classical music sense of the word.

Compositions in flamenco music are generally crafted personally on one’s instrument, and

transmitted aurally, changing and adapting over generations of musicians. In comparing

recorded flamenco music, particularly recordings of guitarists, there are many instances of

pieces identified solely by their form (alegrías, bulerías, siguiriyas, etc.). These pieces can

have striking similarities between artists and recordings. For example, Ramon Montoya’s

recording of a seguiriyas on the album El Genio De La Guitarra Flamenca1 (recorded

between 1923 and 1936) is remarkably similar to Niño Ricardo’s falsetas2 from a recording of

a Seguiriyas on the Tomás Pavón album Grabaciones Discos De Pizarra - Año 1940-503. Scant

quantities of this music have been transcribed. That which has been transcribed is generally

only for guitar, and even those transcriptions can be difficult to obtain.

The purpose of this document is to transcribe original source material. This will present

1Ramón Montoya, El Genio de La Guitarra Flamenca, CD (Sonifolk, 1999).

2Short soloistic and melodic interludes that guitarists play between a singer’s verses.
3Pavòn, Tomàs, Grabaciones Discos De Pizarra - Año 1940-50, CD (Discmedi Blau, 2008).
 2

pieces and techniques for formally trained musicians which can be used to apply the double

bass as a solo voice in flamenco music.

Three pieces have been selected, transribed, and arranged to demonstrate the adaptation

of flamenco music for the double bass. The first piece, Pequeño vals Vienés, is based on an

Enrique Morente recording of a Leonard Cohen melody and a poem by Federico García

Lorca.⁴ This piece was chosen as an introduction to aspects of adapting flamenco vocal

technique to the double bass. The piece does not use one of the more complicated flamenco

rhythmic modes nor is it particularly fast or virtuosic. The arrangement seeks to simulate

the role and characteristics of a flamenco singer on the double bass with guitar playing an

accompanimental role as it would for a singer.

The next piece is a transcription and arrangement of a farruca by Sabicas entitiled Con

Salero y Garbo.⁵ This arrangement is for guitar and bass duo and demonstrates the

application of arco and pizzicato technique to adapt flamenco guitar techniques to the

double bass. Again, the piece was chosen, because it avoids some of the more complex

flamenco rhythmic modes while containing a wide selection of guitar techniques that can be

employed on the bass.

The final piece chosen is a seguiriyas based on a recording by Paco Peña.⁶ This

arrangement is for solo pizzicato double bass. The arrangement addresses the application of

guitar techniques to the double bass while playing pizzicato. This piece, also addresses one

of the more complicated rhythmic modes available in flamenco. The piece was selected as

the seguiriyas is a crucial part of flamenco and this recording is a good example of a

seguiriyas performed only on guitar–many seguiriyas recordings consist of guitar

accompanying voice. This recording also demonstrates a selection of different guitar

techniques contrasting those presented in Con Salero y Garbo.

⁴Enrique Morente, Omega, CD (Acqua Argentina, 1996).

⁵Sabicas, Flamenco On Fire, CD (Legacy International, 2001).
⁶Peña, Paco, Flamenco Guitar Music of Ramón Montoya and Niño Ricardo, CD (Nimbus Records, 1987).
 3

Flamenco Technique vs. Flamenco Style

When discussing flamenco it is important to recognize the various meanings of the word

‘flamenco’. This term can refer to a variety of concepts; a culture, a philosophy, a group of

people, a style of guitar, an array of guitar techniques, and a musical genre that, in itself

encompasses a wide range of subgenres. This document will primarily refer to ‘flamenco’ the

genre and ‘flamenco’ the technique, although the cultural connections are also significant

and crucial for understanding the origins of the musical style as will be discussed in the

“Origins of Flamenco Music” section of chapter 2.

The musical elements that constitute flamenco technique are interwoven with the

musical elements that are necessary to define the genre. Nearly all of the elements that

define flamenco technique are also found in flamenco music. However some elements,

particularly those found in flamenco guitar playing, extend beyond the genre and can be

found in a myriad of classical and vernacular styles.

This can lead to a point of confusion when discussing flamenco music. To many

individuals ‘flamenco’ music can be any music utilizing these techniques. This can range

from traditional flamenco guitar to jazz/fusion instrumentalists such as Al DiMeola or even

to more popularized bands such as the Gipsy Kings.

This document will refer to the word ‘flamenco’ as it applies to techniques and their

traditional application, with voice or guitar, in the context of authentic flamenco music.

Furthermore, this encompasses the music that is the result of the cultural mix of Romani

Gypsies settling in Spain between the late 15th and early 18th centuries. The musical

classification and elements of these styles will be discussed further in chapter 3.

 4

CHAPTER 2: HISTORY

Origins of Flamenco Music

Flamenco music is widely believed to have originated in the region of Spain known as

Andalusia in the late 1700s.1 It is accepted that flamenco music emerged from the settlement

of Romani Gypsies (nomadic people from southern Asia) in Spain. The migration of the

Romani people to Spain was recorded as early as the fifteenth century and brought the

people from southern Asia through Iran, Turkey, Greece and Hungary.

In his book Gypsies and Flamenco, Bernard Leblon asserts that the Gypsies had a strong

tradition of being professional musicians.2 As the Gypsies traveled from town to town they

made money by providing entertainment and playing music. Although the Gypsies had

music of their own culture, they made a great effort to learn the music of the cultures they

were visiting in an attempt to make themselves as commercially marketable as possible.

The origin and travel path of the Gypsies is largely debated and with little concrete

evidence. One common belief is that the Gypsies originated from Punjab in northwestern

India. The migration is said to have begun between 800 and 900 A.D. The migration

spanned many generations as it was not until 1447 that the presence of the Gypsies was

recorded in Barcelona.3 This migration would have led the Gypsies through Pakistan, Iran,

Turkey and most of southern Europe. As the journey spanned hundreds of years and the

Gypsies settled temporarily in these countries, influences from many of these cultures can be

found in flamenco music.

An alternative origin hypothesis is asserted by Aziz Balouch, one of the greatest

non-Spanish singers of cante jundo flamenco.⁴ Balouch, a native of Pakistan, suggests that

1Bernard Leblon, Gypsies and Flamenco, The emergence of the art of flamenco in andalusia (Univ of Hertford-
shire Press, 2003), 43.
2Ibid., 1.
3Claus Schreiner, Flamenco, Gypsy dance and music from andalusia (Amadeus Pr, 1990), 38.
⁴D E Pohren, Lives and Legends of Flamenco, A biographical history (Bold Strummer, 1988), 133.
 5

the Gypsies originated from Sindh in southern Pakistan. Balouch suggests the transfer of

culture was the result of the Arab conquest of both Spain and Sindh in the early 8th century.⁵

Balouch continues to present examples of Sindhi folk music, comparing the melodies to

flamenco songs. Although Balouch’s hypothesis is slightly different from the more common

belief, the timetable is similar and the Gypsies would have traveled a similar path to arrive in

Spain.

The cultural assimilation of the Romani Gypsies into the existing culture in Spain was

further influenced once they arrived by periods of oppression and forced naturalization.

Beginning with Philip III in 1610 the Gypsies in Spain were ordered by the government to

be dispersed into large cities, rather than living in groups in the countryside.⁶ Moreover, the

Gypsies were not allowed to publicly express their cultural heritage in any manner–language,

dress, or art. For better or for worse, this contributed to the Gypsy culture assimilating many

characteristics of the Spanish regions in which they lived. These practices of forced

assimilation by the government continued until 1783 under the reign of Charles III.

One popular belief concerning the origins of flamenco culture and music reflects a tie to

the Netherlands–‘flamenco’ in Spanish can be translated as ‘flamingos’, ‘flamboyant’ or

‘flemish’, referring to citizens of Flanders in the Netherlands. Leblon finds this to be a

misconception. His research does find a tie to Flanders, but not an exchange of cultural

ideas. Many of the strongest flamenco families had members who negotiated pardons from

the government’s forced relocation and assimilation in exchange for military service.⁷ This

largely occurred under Philip IV during the last stage of the Dutch revolt in the 1620s. The

Gypsies that committed to military service in Flanders to escape government persecution

were referred to as ‘flamencos’.

As the Gypsies living in Spain were persecuted for nearly 200 years, their music was

largely kept contained within their culture. It was not until the late 1700s that their music
⁵Aziz Balouch, Spanish Cante Jundo and Its Origin in Sindhi Music (The Mehran Arts Council, 1968), 43.
⁶Leblon, Gypsies and Flamenco, 21.
⁷Ibid., 36.
 6

received a wider cultural audience, and not until 1860 that ‘payos’⁸ began learning to

perform their music.⁹

The Golden Age of Flamenco Music

The late 19th century signifies a particularly important time period for flamenco music

often referred to as the ‘Golden Age’ of flamenco. This period coincides with the rise of the

café cantante in major cities in Spain, including Seville, Madrid, and Barcelona. These café

cantantes were establishments that served food and drink and had a focal point of flamenco

music and other performances.1⁰ The café cantantes provided steady work for flamenco

performers that had previously relied on the unstable support of wealthy patrons. This new

influx of work allowed for greater audience among the general population of Spain.

Additionally the ‘Golden Age’ of flamenco provided an opportunity for non-gypsy

musicians opportunity to perform this genre of music.

With the rise in popularity of the café cantante also came the rise of private juergas11 and

eventually the decline of authenticity and quality of public flamenco performances. As

Loren Chuse illustrates in her book Music, Gender, and Identity in Flamenco Song, with the

rise of the café cantante there was also a rise in private juergas in separate rooms in bars,

restaurants, taverns and private residences.12 As these juergas included high levels of artistic

expression, party-like atmosphere and heavy consumption of alcohol, they often devolved

into debauchery. Furthermore, establishments that hosted flamenco juergas were associated

with prostitution.

After the rise of the ‘Golden Age’ of flamenco, the association of flamenco music with

⁸Spanish word for ‘non-gypsy’

⁹Schreiner, Flamenco.
1⁰Loren Chuse, Cantaoras, Music, gender and identity in flamenco song (Routledge, 2013), 60.
11Flamenco party, often including many musicians and dancers, as well as non-performing spectators. In the
context of the ‘Golden Age’ of flamenco, these often also included heavy consumption of alcohol.
12Ibid., 61.
 7

less than respectable acts and establishments eventually cast it in a negative light. This fact,

in conjunction with the decline in quality and authenticity of flamenco music due to any

payo of any skill level being able to find paying work performing flamenco, led to the decline

of authentic flamenco in popular culture in the 1910s.13

In 1922 a group, including poet and author Federico García Lorca and composer Manuel

de Falla, banded together in an attempt to restore flamenco to its original art form. This

group created the event named “Concurso de canto jondo” in Granada.1⁴ This collaboration

attempted to bring unknown flamenco performers that were still performing in the olden

style to the forefront. The event, although well attended, was largely unsuccessful. The

unknown performers were not able to attract much of a following after the event.

Another resurgence in traditional flamenco occurred in 1948 in Madrid. An updated

venue similart to the café cantante, known as the tablao1⁵ “La Zambra”, was created with the

intent to foster the olden style of flamenco music. This establishment was widely popular

and greatly imitated.1⁶ However, these tablao eventually suffered the same fate of over

commercialization that the café cantante did at the beginning of the century.

This brings us to the context of flamenco today. The old style of flamenco, while sought

out and respected by a small audience, is largely not performed in public. However, the

characteristics and techniques have been widely disseminated into modern commercial

Spanish music as well as other genres of music.

Historical Role of the Bass in Flamenco

Historically, the double bass has not had a significant role in flamenco music. One likely

explanation is that it is a rather large and cumbersome instrument which is not easily

13Schreiner, Flamenco, 45.

1⁴Ibid., 45.
1⁵Literally: “floorboard”. A name for a place where flamenco shows are performed.
1⁶Ibid.
 8

transported. It would not be as portable as the guitar, which would be crucial in a gypsy

lifestyle. Furthermore, the double bass, before the introduction of steel strings in the mid

1900’s, was a relatively quiet instrument. The double bass would not have been suited for the

type of environment where flamenco was traditionally played at social gatherings, parties,

festivals.

To understand the traditional role of the double bass in flamenco music one must extract

and analyze bass movement and harmonic function of flamenco guitar. With flamenco, the

guitar is often utilized as a polyphonic instrument that is capable of playing either pure

harmony or independent melodic lines. As a result, common guitar patterns in many

flamenco styles have distinct harmonic and/or rhythmic bass lines.

Figure 2.1 shows an excerpt from Ramón Montoya performing a malagueñas por

siguiriya.1⁷ The malagueñas por siguiriya is similar to a fandango and uses the compas from

the seguiriyas. In this excerpt you can see that the lower notes of the arpeggios in the guitar

provide a harmonic and rhythmic ‘bass line’.

Figure 2.1.: Ramón Montoya - Malagueñas por Siguiriya Excerpt

Figure 2.2 illustrates the bass content of this excerpt extracted, the pitches transposed

down an octave, and the rhythm adjusted. This demonstrates that the lower part of the guitar

melody (played with the thumb on the lower strings) provides a perfectly adequate bass line.

1⁷Ramón Montoya, El Genio de La Guitarra Flamenca.

 9

Figure 2.2.: Bass Arrangement - Malagueñas por Siguiriya

Another such example can be seen in the Sabicas farruca “Punta y Tacon” as found on

the album Flamenco Puro.1⁸ Again, in this example seen in figure 2.3, the lower notes of the

guitar part construct a usable (albeit repetitive) bass line.

Figure 2.3.: Sabicas - “Punta y Tacon” Excerpt

When extracting a bass part the dotted quarter, eighth rhythm and the root movement

become apparent, as seen in figure 2.4. Although, this strategy does not work to adapt every

guitar part into a bass part, there are many instances of flamenco guitar where the guitarist is

providing both the role of melody and accompanimental root movement. These instances

can easily be extracted for the bass.

Figure 2.4.: Bass Arrangement - “Punta y Tacon”

Contemporary Role of the Double Bass in Flamenco

Although the double bass has historically played a minor role in flamenco music; if it has

played any role at all, it has grown in popularity in the past forty years. Many contemporary

flamenco recordings utilize a bass as an accompanying instrument. Bass guitar may be more

1⁸Sabicas, Flamenco Puro, CD (Calé Records, 2011).

 10

popular in recent recordings, but the double bass can be found occasionally. For example,

the Camarón de la Isla album Potro De Rabia Y Miel1⁹ makes heavy use of Carles Benavent

on electric bass, while other albums such as the Carmen Linares album Un Ramito De

Locura2⁰ include Pablo Martín on the double bass. The bassists on both of these albums play

in a contemporary jazz/fusion style.

In contemporary recordings the role of the double bass can vary as widely as the styles

that fall under the modern-day umbrella of flamenco. The double bass can range from

playing simple root-notes at the point of harmonic change to playing jazz-funk-rock

influenced accompaniment in the style of bassist Jaco Pastorious21. Examples of this can be

found in the playing of Carles Benavent. Benavent has recorded with modern flamenco

greats such as Camarón de la Isla and Paco De Lucia. More specifically, the playing on

“Como el Agua,”22 from Camaròn de la Isla’s album by the same name, exemplifies this trend

in modern flamenco bass. A transcription of an excerpt from this piece can be seen in figure

2.5.

Figure 2.5.: Carles Benavent’s Bass Line from “Como el Agua”

This example from “Como el Agua”, recorded in 1993, includes many characteristics of

jazz fusion bass playing of the ’70s and ’80s, including staccato off-beat accents, muted notes,

octave leaps and anticipations of the downbeat.23 Compared with a bass line in figure 2.6

1⁹El Camarón de la Isla, Potro de Rabia Y Miel (Universal Distribution, 1992).

2⁰Carmen Linares, Un Ramito de Locura (Mercury, 2002).
21A jazz/fusion electric bassist known for his 16th-note funk style and melodic playing. He is best known for
his playing in the band Weather Report.
22Although no bass player is attributed on the album, it is likely Carles Benavent based on the time period,
playing style and other musicians involved
23El Camarón de la Isla, Como El Agua, CD (Alex, 1993).
 11

from Jaco Pastorius recorded in 1979, many similarities can be seen.2⁴

Figure 2.6.: Jaco Pastorius’ Bass Line from “The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines”

Jaco’s bass line, recorded prior to Benavent’s, uses similar off-beat accents, muted notes,

and octave leaps. The ‘x’ notation used in both examples signifies a ‘muted’ note, where the

left hand is intentionally not fully depressed. This technique creates an audible ‘thump’

sound with little pitch content. The technique is used to create motoric rhythms and to fill

rests between off-beat syncopations.

2⁴Joni Mitchell, Mingus, CD (Asylum, 1979).

 12

CHAPTER 3: ELEMENTS OF FLAMENCO MUSIC

Although flamenco music is a diverse style, encompassing a range of musical attributes

and techniques, one can observe distinct attributes when analyzing cante gitano-andaluz

music. One of the most important characteristics of flamenco music to be aware of is its rich

collection of subgenres and song forms. The song forms are central to flamenco music and

define many of the musical characteristics that make flamenco unique. Beyond the song

forms, the essence of what musical elements make up flamenco music revolve around the

guitar, the voice and the unique techniques that they bring forth in flamenco music.

Song Forms

Ricardo Molina; a Spanish poet and author who collaborated with many flamenco

singers between 1940 and 1970, classifies flamenco music as ‘cante gitano-andaluz’ (song of

the Andalusian Gypsies). This is one of the clearest ways to place constraints on flamenco

music.1 Molina further classifies flamenco music as musical styles brought by the gypsies to

Spain–‘Cante gitano’, and musical styles developed by gypsies in Andelusia–‘Cante andaluz’.

Within this classification cante gitano encompasses the subgenres of toná, soleá, seguiriya,

tango and bulería while cante andaluz encompasses fandango, the cantiñas, and alegrías.

Furthermore, Molina recognizes styles influenced by cante gitano-andaluz that did not

originate in Spain. These styles include sevillanas, the farruca, the garrotin and the rumba

from Cuba. The musical aspects of these forms are discussed in chapter 3.

The song forms in flamenco are defined by a few factors. Due to the influence of culture

and geography on the migration of the Gypsies in Spain, many of the subgenres are defined

by their region of origin. This may (or in some cases, may not) contribute to subtle regional

‘flavors’ that create slim distinction between styles. Depending on the reference, this

ill-defined set of traits can divide flamenco subgenres in as few as fifteen or as numerous as
1Ricardo Molina, Mundo Y Formas Del Cante Flamenco (Libreria Al-Andalus Granada, 1971), 21.
 13

forty different categories. Other genres and forms have much clearer distinctions,

originating from the compás2 which the form uses combined with harmony, relative tempo,

and mood. Of all of the flamenco song forms the alegrías, bulerías, fandangos, farruca,

rumba, seguiriyas, soleares, soleá, soleá por bulerías, tango gitanos, and tientos are among the

most distincting and significant.

One of the most fundamental forms of flamenco music is the soleares. The compás for

the soleares is a twelve-beat pattern with accents on beats 3, 6, 8, 10 and 12. This compás is

the basis for many other forms of flamenco, including the alegrias and bulerías. The lyrics of

the soleares tend to relate to love and love lost, as well as personal suffering as the result of

said lost love.

The alegrías is another of the most common flamenco song forms. Although it is

generally in Phrygian mode, as is common in flamenco music, it has a unique characteristic

of often sounding major. This effect is the result of many alegrías having melodies that

center around the upper notes of the Phrygian mode: C, F and G (in the key of E Phrygian).

This gives the illusion of a C Major sound, however, songs in this form generally returns to E

at the end, adhering to the Phrygian nature of the melody.3

Similar to the soleares, the alegrias tends to be a lively form with a 12-count compás

containing accents on beats 12⁴, 3, 6 (or 7), 8, and 10. Harmonically the alegrías tends to be

simple, oscillating between tonic and dominant.

The bulérias is a flexible and spontaneous form with a similar compás to the alegrías. The

bulérias originated at the end of the 19th century and is said to have originally been a heavy

and serious song.⁵ Today the bulérias is often a lighter and energetic form performed very

reactively, interpreting and anticipating the actions of the singer. The bulérias por solèa has

2Compás are the ‘rhythmic modes’ of flamenco music. These modes are patterns that are usually twelve or four
beats long with distinct unique emphases.
3Robin Totton, Song of the Outcasts, An introduction to flamenco (Hal Leonard Corporation, 2003), 34.
⁴The alegrías is often counted beginning on beat 12 as it is the strongest beat in this compás.
⁵Schreiner, Flamenco, 69.
 14

adopted the more serious side.

Soléa por bulerías literally translates to Soléa in the style of a bulerías. The soléa por

bulerías maintains the basic compás from the soleares (and by proxy the alegrías); however it

tends to have a heavier character than a typical bulerías. Overall the form is a hybrid

between soleares and bulerías and may fall at any point in a wide spectrum between the two.

The fandangos is one of the forms which can be broadly interpreted. One of the more

popular interpretations is referred to as fandangos de Huelva (Huelva a city in southwestern

Spain). The fandango claims influence from both the Spanish Moors and Latin America.⁶

The compás for the fandangos de Huelva is a six-beat pattern with accents on beats three

and five.

Traditionally the farruca is a form intended to demonstrate virtuosic dance. This form

holds influence from Cuba and as such is classified by Molina as cantes folklóricos

aflamencados.⁷ The compás of the Farruca is a simple four-beat pattern with the accent on

beat one and a lesser accent on the ‘and’ of beat two.

The rumba flamenca is another cantes folklóricos aflamencados form said to originate

from flamencos migrating from Spain to Cuba and returning to Spain. The rumba flamenca

is a quick form in a 24 meter. It often features two guitars–one playing rhythmic

accompaniment and the other playing the melody.

The seguiriyas is one of the most important and moving forms in flamenco music. It is

often cited as originating from the traditional Castilian seguidilla, although Emma Martinez

asserts that the differences are too profound to confidently suggest a link.⁸ The seguiriyas is a

passionate and deeply moving song.

The lyrics of the seguiriyas tend to be of profound loss and sadness. Pohren suggests that

the greatest singers of the seguiriyas are affected by the song;

⁶Ibid., 13.
⁷Ibid., 36.
⁸Emma Martinez, Flamenco, All you wanted to know (Mel Bay Publications, 2011), 37.
 15

Those who have truly felt the deep, black currents of emotion that characterize
the seguiriyas; who became so entangled in their lament of death and
disenchantment that reality escapes them (or perhaps they discover it. Who are
we to judge?)⁹

The seguiriyas is traditionally performed with a vocalist singing in a melismatic (the

practice of having multiple pitches for a single syllable) and expressive style with guitar

accompaniment, although guitar-only arrangements have become popular as well. The

compás for the seguiriyas is a twelve-beat pattern with accents on beats 1, 3, 5, 8, and 11.

The tango gitano (‘gypsy tango’) originates from a blending of African and Caribbean

music with Spanish music. It shares more in common with the flamenco farruca than it does

with the Argentinean tango.

The tango is often used as a finale to a tiento. Like a farruca the tango follows a simple

four-beat pattern with an emphasis on beats 2, 3 and 4. The tango gitano is typically

performed in the key of A Phrygian.

Lastly, the tientos shares common ancestry with the tango. It is often similar to a slow

tango with simple rhythm.1⁰ Like the tangos, the tientos is a four-beat pattern with emphasis

on the second, third and fourth beats. The tientos adds an additional subdivision on the

up-beat of beat two.

Flamenco Vocal Style

One of the most important characteristics of the flamenco vocal style is its use of

melismatic singing. The basic melody in many flamenco songs is fairly simple. This simple

melody is expounded upon with melismatic ornaments. Totton suggests that to flamenco

singers, these melismatic passages and ornaments are of equal importance to the melody.11

⁹Pohren, Lives and Legends of Flamenco, 26.

1⁰Martinez, Flamenco, 37.
11Totton, Song of the Outcasts, 33.
 16

Additionally, these melismatic interjections are more common and more elaborate in the

‘deeper’ song forms, such as the seguiriyas and the soléa.

An example of this melismatic style of singing can be seen in the transcription in figure

3.1 from a recording of a seguiriyas by El Chocolate12 entitled “Siempre por los Rincones”.

The transcription contains the first six and a half measures once the vocals begin. This

section serves as an introduction to the tune itself.

Figure 3.1.: “Siempre por los Rincones” - Introduction Excerpt

This excerpt is performed with each set of notes indicated under one slur being sung in a

single breath using non-lexical vocables13. Following this introduction the tune continues

with melismatic material on a smaller scale than the introduction. Often ornaments are

added to the melody for emotional effect. These ornaments include chromatic enclosures,

microtonal embellishments, scoops, glissandi and appoggiaturas.

The microtonal aspects of flamenco music may stem from the historical influence of

Arabic culture on the Spanish gypsies, although there is no concrete evidence of this

connection. It can be observed that microtones are generally used by flattening tones of the

12It is common in flamenco culture for artists to assume nicknames to distinguish themselves from others. As
the Spanish gypsy culture is relatively small, there were 25 primary families of flamencos in the late 18th and
early 19th centuries. Due to intermarrying between these families there was a high occurrence of individuals
having the same or similar names. As a result many flamencos adopted unique nicknames and thus there
are artists with names like El Chocolate, La Niña de los Peines (Child of Combs), Camarón de la Isla (small
white shrimp of the island), son of El Morao, and Sabicas.(, Leblon, Gypsies and Flamenco, 45.)
13Syllables that are improvised and do not generate cohesive words.
 17

given mode (never sharpening).1⁴ The use of microtones is also generally implemented at

the highest points in a dramatic musical phrase.

Just as singers of flamenco music can have very fluid interpretations of melody and pitch,

they also employ similar practices with rhythm. Flamenco singers rarely sing melodies

strictly on the beat; they often anticipate or delay rhythms while maintaining a strong

connection to the underlying pulse. This can be compared to how jazz musicians may

interpret a melody in relation to rhythm.

Flamenco Guitar Style

The origins of guitar in flamenco are too ancient to be documented, however it has

become more prominent in the past eighty years. Although it has gained in prominence as

rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment, the role of the guitar has been considered

secondary to the extent that guitarists were not credited on many recordings until the

1990s.1⁵ Even with the role of guitar being generally secondary, some guitarists have

managed to bring flamenco guitar to the forefront as a stand-alone art form. Guitarists such

as Niño Ricardo, Paco Peña, and later Pepe Habichuela and Paco de Lucía have raised

flamenco guitar to a new level, in the roles of accompaniment and as a solo instrument.

The flamenco guitar is similar to classical guitar in both construction and technique with

a few key distinctions. Flamenco guitars tend to have thinner bodies, narrower necks and

lower action than classical guitars.1⁶ This yields a ‘grittier,’ more aggressive and percussive

sound, for a small trade-off in volume.

Concerning technique, generally flamenco guitarists play with more force and energy

than classical guitarists. There are, however, a few techniques that are unique to flamenco

1⁴Totton, Song of the Outcasts, 38.

1⁵Ibid., 80.
1⁶Ibid., 74.
 18

guitar: Rasgueado and Tremolo.

The ‘tremolo’ technique creates a similar effect to tremolo in western music. The

technique is generally executed by plucking a single pitch multiple times with distinct fingers,

usually three or four (depending on the meter and subdivision). Often accompanying a

tremolo is a bass line or counter melody played with the thumb. An example can be found in

a fandango by Sebicas entitled “Con Salero y Garbo” as seen in figure 3.2.

Figure 3.2.: “Con Salero y Garbo” - Tremolo Excerpt

The ‘rasgueado’ technique involves strumming multiple strings multiple times with

distinct fingers. There are many different patterns with the rasgueado, somewhat akin to the

variety of snare-drum rudiments that a percussionist may have. One common rasgueado

can be described as follows:

• Beginning with a closed (fist-like) hand position, one ‘flicks’ the index finger

downward, strumming the strings.

• Following this the guitarist performs a similar motion with the pinky, ring, middle

and (again) index fingers creating a quintuplet rhythm.

• Additionally the thumb may be used via a wrist-turn motion for additional strikes.

Rasgueados can be notated as indicated in figure 3.3, with the arrows indicating strum

direction and p i m a s indicating fingers (thumb, index, middle, ring, pinky, respectively)
 19

Figure 3.3.: Rasgueados Example

Summary

Flamenco as a genre is difficult to qualify in words. The essence of the form boils down

to raw dramatic energy. Totton effectively summarizes what comprises flamenco with the

following quote:

Perhaps the key lies in realizing that for a flamenco what comes first is
expressing strong feelings and communicating it. He is not interested in
sounding or looking pretty. This truth applies as much to dance and guitar as it
does to song. The dancer may be graceful, but the first quality is expressive
force… And so it is with the song: forceful expression matters more than a fine
singing voice… The harsh voices that emerged from the forges and caves and
fields have come to be prized, especially among the Gypsies; and the strangling
of the voice in the throat has come to be one of the climactic moments of a song,
a way of expressing violent emotions.1⁷

1⁷Ibid., 36.
 20

CHAPTER 4: ADAPTING FLAMENCO MUSIC FOR THE DOUBLE BASS

Application of Flamenco Vocal Style to the Double Bass

Many aspects of the flamenco vocal style adapt well to the double bass. Most directly, a

deep, powerful male voice referred to as “Voz Redona o Flamenca” is preferred by cantadores.

Voz Redona o Flamenca is described as “…sweet, mellow, manly, [it] is emitted from the lugs

without throaty interruptions.”1 This vocal range is demonstrated by contemporary singers

such as Enrique Morente2 and happens to lie in the ‘sweet spot’ on the double bass, where it

sounds the most powerful. Moreover we are able to adapt much of the flamenco vocal style

to the double bass with little sacrifice.

The melismatic style of singing that is common in flamenco music adapts readily to

string instruments. The largest obstacle is the duration that one can sustain a single bow.

The most powerful flamenco singers have a great capacity to sustain one breath for a long

duration. This is not as easily possible on string instruments, particularly when

string-crossings are encountered. To approach this one must carefully plan string crossing

and bow direction changes to best support the direction and intent of musical lines.

As a non-fretted instrument, the double bass also lends itself readily to adapting the

microtonal aspects of flamenco music. In his article “The transcription of vocal

microtonality” Francisco Camas; a composition professor at the music conservatory “Teresa

Berganza” in Madrid, demonstrates transcription of melismatic singing in flamenco. Camas

uses an excerpt from a recording of an unaccompanied chant by El Chocolate entitled “Mis

Caramelos.”3. Using pitch detection software Camas transcribes this chant into an alyzable

waveform diagram. From the diagram Camas is able to determine the relation of the pitch

content to the standard 12-note scale. Camas derrives a transcription that can be seen in

1Pohren, Lives and Legends of Flamenco, 28.

2Chuse, Cantaoras, 40.
3El Negro, Mis Caramelos, El Gran Flamenco, CD (Piros/ISdigital, 2014).
 21

figure 4.1 (reproduced from Camas’ article). This transcription gives as much information as

can be transmitted through staff-notation of the microtonal aspects of flamenco singing.⁴

Figure 4.1.: Microtonal excerpt from El Caramelos

Mastery of microtonal playing can be a daunting task, as Bertram Turetzky points out⁵.

Fortunately, since microtones are generally used by flattening notes in flamenco music, this

makes applying microtones more easily achievable. Technically this can be practiced by a

simple ‘rolling back’ of the left hand fingers from a given tone. This is a very effective

technique, particularly in thumb position on the double bass.

Another tool that can be utilized upon as a bassist to aid in approaching flamenco music

on the double bass is the left-hand portion of Rabbath technique. The left-hand ideas from

Rabbath technique, including pivots and the crab-technique allow for more notes to be

played in one position and with greater fluidity than ‘traditional’ technique.

The vocal techniques of flamenco music tend to lie on the more lyrical end of the

spectrum. The melismatic introductions often found in flamenco music are the most

obvious example of this–yet melodies in the body of a song often have similar characteristics.

With this type of music the advantages of Rabbath technique become readily apparent. As

can be seen in figures 4.2 and 4.3, the same melodic excerpt with ‘traditional’ fingerings

requires a greater number of shifts, potentially interrupting the melodic line. In these

excerpts from Paco Peña’s seguiriyas, the brackets above the staff are added to signify the

notes which can be played in one position while the numbers below indicate on which string

the notes are played.

⁴Francisco Camas, “The Transcription of Vocal Microtonality,” accessed April 8, 2015, http://www.
franciscocamas.com/science-music-interactions/the-transcription-of-vocal-microtonality/.
⁵Todd Leavitt, “An Interview with Bertram Turetzky,” International Society of Bassists XVI, no. 2 (January 1990):
16–19 & 73–35.
 22

As can be seen in the excerpts, the traditional style fingerings in figure 4.2 use fifteen

shifts and nine string changes while the Rabbath style fingering in figure 4.3 use only three

shifts and six string changes. However, more important than the number of shifts or string

crossing is where they occur in relation to the phrasing of the excerpt. The Rabbath style

fingering approach allows entire phrases to be played without interrupting them with either

a shift or a string crossing. The traditional style fingering, on the other hand, has many

interruptions (particularly shifts) in the middle of phrases.

Figure 4.2.: Traditional Left Hand Technique: Excerpt from Paco Peña seguiriyas

Figure 4.3.: Rabbath Left Hand Technique: Excerpt from Paco Peña seguiriyas

Furthermore, the flexibility of Rabbath technique gives the performer the power to

decide the optimal placement of shifts to best support a musical line or phrase. This may

result in a more traditional approach for a given passage and a pivot approach for another.

The Rabbath technique allows for either option or a combination of both.

The Rabbath technique also allows for a variety of intervalic relationships between the
 23

fingers of the left hand in thumb position that help accommodate the harmonic structures

found in flamenco music. Other left-hand systems prescribe sets of ‘hand shapes’ such as the

Petracchi method which breaks the hand shape into chromatic (all half-steps from thumb to

middle), semi-chromatic (a whole step followed by all half steps) and diatonic (a whole step,

followed by a whole step and a half step) hand shapes.⁶ Conversely, the Rabbath method

embraces alternative hand shapes, such as Phrygian (half-step, followed by all whole steps)

which can be much better suited for playing in the modes used by flamenco music.

Application of Flamenco Guitar Style to the Double Bass

Because the double bass is a stringed instrument with a similar tuning system to guitar,

there are already some similarities that can be easily translated. Many passages that are

idiomatic on guitar may also be idiomatic on the bass. The main challenge for the double

bass when compared to guitar is speed. The guitar has considerably shorter strings than the

double bass, and the strings are closer together as well. This makes it easier for guitarists to

cover larger intervalic distances more quickly than is possible on bass.

The specific flamenco guitar techniques mentioned earlier can also easily be adapted to

the double bass. Tremolo, by the western-music definition of the word, can elicit a similar

effect as tremolo on the guitar. If possible at a given tempo, one should attempt to meter the

tremolo as a guitar would. However, even with a pure tremolo the effect is similar.

The rasgueado is more difficult to emulate on the double bass. One of the primary

challenges on emulating rasgueado on the double bass is the number of strings and distance

between them. Many rasgueado patterns on flamenco guitar require fingering multi-note

(three or more) chords with the left-hand while performing the rasgueado with the right.

Alterations must be made on the double bass regarding chord voicing. Most chord voicing

beyond root-third-seventh or root-fifth-seventh is not possible on the double bass. As a

⁶Francesco Petracchi, “Simplified Higher Technique for Double Bass” (London: Yorke Edition, n.d.), 33.
 24

result voicing must be simplified. Additionally open strings can aid in more complex voicing

where available. Open strings tend to be a good option as keys that are comfortable on

guitar and common in flamenco music (E-minor or A-minor) feature open strings on both

the guitar and double bass.

Regarding the right hand technique of the rasgueado, other adaptations need to be made.

On guitar the rasgueado requires independent ‘flicks’ of individual fingers outward from a

closed hand position in rapid succession. On double bass this motion does not create the

desired effect for a variety of reasons. Firstly, strings on the double bass are much thicker

and under considerably more tension than guitar. The same amount of energy put into a

similar motion on double bass would result in a less than satisfactory amount of sound when

compared with guitar. Moreover, nearly all strings used in classical and jazz bass playing are

encased in a metal wrapping, whereas classical and flamenco guitar strings are nylon, carbon

fiber or low tension strings wrapped in a soft metal such as copper. On double bass,

attempting a guitar-like rasgueado results in fingernails hitting the stiff and hard metal

strings, yielding a very abrasive sound.

A useful adaptation of the rasgueado is to use the index, middle, ring and pinky fingers

together in an outward ‘flick’ at about a 60 degree angle to the strings. This is followed by a

wrist turn outward to strum the strings with the underside of the thumb. Finally the wrist is

turned back in while the fingers are closed to deliver the final strum with the underside of

the fingers. This is illustrated in figure 4.4.

Figure 4.4.: Rasgueado Technique

 25

This technique allows for three distinct strikes with fleshy parts of the hand, providing a

more pleasing sound on the double bass. The drawback of this technique is that it gains just

three distinct strikes, not five as guitarists have. Therefore adapting guitar music that uses

the rasgueado requires adjusting rhythms to compensate for this, either by simplifying the

rhythm or stringing together groups of three-event rasgueados.

 26

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION

In closing, flamenco has historically had little place for the double bass. It is, however

possible to adapt the double bass as a solo voice in flamenco music. By interpreting the vocal

and guitar characteristics and techniques found in flamenco music, the double bass can

sufficiently assume the role of the primary instrument in flamenco music.

The following pieces contained in the Appendices, have been arranged to feature the

double bass. Each piece features different characteristics of flamenco music and

demonstrates the ways in which they can be adapted for the double bass. Preceeding each

piece is a brief description of its significance, the techniques applied and their adaptation for

the double bass.

With flamenco being a primarily aurally transmitted tradition, listening and

transcription are paramount in understanding this music. While these transcriptions can be

a useful guide, true understanding and mastery of flamenco music must be obtained

through the original sources and striving to emulate them on the double bass.
 27

APPENDIX A: PEQUEÑO VALS VIENÉS

“Pequeño vals Vienés” is based on a poem by Spanish poet and playwright Federico

García Lorca (b. 1898, d. 1936). Born near Granada, Spain, although not a gypsy himself,

Lorca was an avid appreciator and proponent of flamenco and the Gypsy lifestyle. In 1922

Lorca teamed up with composer Manuel de Falla to help promote a celebration named “El

Concurso del Cante Jondo”. This event sought to reestablish the roots and traditional art of

flamenco, which at this time had devolved from its golden days.1

This poem was originally set to music by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen

and later by flamenco singer Enrique Morente.2 The arrangement is inspired by Morente’s

version and his powerful flamenco voice. Below we can see a comparison of Lorca’s original

lyrics to his poem compared with Cohen’s translation.

Lorca’s Origional Poem Cohen’s Translation

En Viena hay diez muchachas, Now in Vienna there’s ten pretty women
un hombro donde solloza la muerte There’s a shoulder where death comes to cry
y un bosque de palomas disecadas. There’s a lobby with nine hundred windows
Hay un fragmento de la mañana There’s a tree
en el museo de la escarcha. where the doves go to die
Hay un salón con mil ventanas. There’s a piece that was torn from the morning
And it hangs in the gallery of frost

¡Ay, ay, ay, ay! Ay, ay, ay, ay

Toma este vals con la boca cerrada. Take this waltz, take this waltz
Take this waltz with the clamp on its jaws

Este vals, este vals, este vals, este vals,

de sí, de muerte y de coñac
que moja su cola en el mar.

Te quiero, te quiero, te quiero, I want you, I want you, I want you

con la butaca y el libro muerto, On a chair with a dead magazine
por el melancólico pasillo, In the cave at the tip of the lilly,
en el oscuro desván del lirio, In some hallway where love’s never been
en nuestra cama de la luna On a bed where the moon has been sweating,
y en la danza que sueña la tortuga. In a cry filled with footsteps and sand

¡Ay, ay, ay, ay! Take this waltz, take this waltz
Toma este vals de quebrada cintura. Take its broken waist in your hand

1Timothy Mitchell, Flamenco Deep Song (Yale University Press, 1994), 165–166.
2Morente, Omega.
 28

Lorca’s Origional Poem Cohen’s Translation

This waltz, this waltz, this waltz, this waltz

With its very own breath of brandy and Death
Dragging its tail in the sea

En Viena hay cuatro espejos There’s a concert hall in Vienna

donde juegan tu boca y los ecos. Where your mouth had a thousand reviews
Hay una muerte para piano There’s a bar where the boys have stopped talking
que pinta de azul a los muchachos. They’ve been sentenced to death by the blues
Hay mendigos por los tejados, Ah, but who is it climbs to your picture
hay frescas guirnaldas de llanto. With a garland of freshly cut tears?

¡Ay, ay, ay, ay! Take this waltz, take this waltz
Toma este vals que se muere en mis brazos. Take this waltz, it’s been dying for years

Porque te quiero, te quiero, amor mío, There’s an attic where children are playing,
en el desván donde juegan los niños, Where I’ve got to lie down with you soon,
soñando viejas luces de Hungría In a dream of Hungarian lanterns,
por los rumores de la tarde tibia, In the mist of some sweet afternoon
viendo ovejas y lirios de nieve And I’ll see what you’ve chained to your sorrow,
por el silencio oscuro de tu frente. All your sheep and your lilies of snow

¡Ay, ay, ay, ay! Take this waltz, take this waltz
Toma este vals, este vals del “Te quiero siempre”. With its “I’ll never forget you, you know!”

This waltz, this waltz, this waltz, this waltz

With its very own breath of brandy and Death
Dragging its tail in the sea

En Viena bailaré contigo And I’ll dance with you in Vienna

con un disfraz que tenga I’ll be wearing a river’s disguise
cabeza de río. The hyacinth wild on my shoulder,
¡Mira qué orillas tengo de jacintos! My mouth on the dew of your thighs
Dejaré mi boca entre tus piernas, And I’ll bury my soul in a scrapbook,
mi alma en fotografías y azucenas, With the photographs there, and the moss
y en las ondas oscuras de tu andar And I’ll yield to the flood of your beauty
quiero, amor mío, amor mío, dejar, My cheap violin and my cross
violín y sepulcro, las cintas del vals. And you’ll carry me down on your dancing
To the pools that you lift on your wrist
O my love, o my love
Take this waltz, take this waltz
It’s yours now. It’s all that there is

Although Cohen’s translation does the original poem justice, it paints the drama with a

more stark and desolate palate, rather than the raw emotional outpouring that one would

expect from flamenco music. This can be seen in his manipulation of some of Lorca’s lyrics,

such as “Porque te quiero, te quiero, amor mío” in the second to last stanza, which translates
 29

to “Because I love you, I love you, my love” which Cohen leaves out altogether. Furthermore,

Cohen leaves out many of the “¡Ay, ay, ay, ay!” lines that Lorca wrote in the original poem.

These syllables are directly from the pain-filled interjections that flamenco singers use.

Morente adds this type of drama back in his interpretation of “Pequeño Vals Vienés”.

Although this arrangement is not a uniquely flamenco form (it is a waltz) the purpose is

to experience the flamenco vocal style, emulating the singing of Enrique Morente on the

double bass. The melody of the transcription is the way that Morente sings the song,

complete with inflections and added syllables. The introduction is designed to emulate a

melismatic introduction that many flamenco singers perform at the beginning of slower

pieces such as the seguiriyas.

The notated introduction may be played verbatim, however, it is intended solely as a

sample. In flamenco practice this portion of the song will generally be improvised or a

heavily ornamented rendition of a prepared melody. In performance of this piece the

performer is allowed to approach this in whichever manner they feel comfortable. In the

case of improvising the Am, G, F, E chord progression can be repeated to allow for a longer

improvised introduction.

Although the melody is notated precisely, the performer should feel free to elaborate and

embellish as they see fit. The melody as presented is a transcription of Enrique Morente’s

performance of the piece. He presents the melody with a very free interpretation of the

rhythm. The performer of this arrangement is to do the same using the notated melody as a

guide only. This is the normal practice of a singer in flamenco music. Melodies are

ornamented, rhythms are altered, but it must be done tastefully with a strong connection to

the underlying pulse.

Figure A.1 (p. 1 of 2) 30
Figure A.1 (p. 2 of 2) 31
 32

APPENDIX B: CON SALERO Y GARBO

“Con Salero y Garbo” is a farruca composed by Sabicas1 and released on his album Art of

The Guitar in 1976.2 Sabicas is referred to as the ‘king of the concert flamenco guitar.’3 He is

a master of the instrument, with impeccable technique.

This arrangement adapts Sabicas’ solo guitar piece as a duo for double bass and flamenco

guitar. It seeks to present the ways in which the double bass can assimilate flamenco style

with arco playing.

One of the more overt technical challenges for the double bass is the tremolo melody

beginning at rehearsal L. Although this passage can be approached in a variety of ways,

optimally the tremolo should be metered in groups of five to best mirror the original guitar

technique as composed by Sabicas. Sabicas uses groups of fives, which as idiomatic

groupings on guitar. Guitarist use each finger of the right hand, in turn, to strike the same

string–producing a repeated tremolo. Alternately, in this arrangement, the tremolos can be

played metered in groups of four or as a pure tremolo for a similar effect.

Another important technical aspect to consider is fingering choices in the fast passages

of measures 19, 30 - 31, 94-101 and 118-121. All of these passages can be simplified with the

use of Rabbath pivot and crab techniques. These passages lie much more conveniently on

guitar than they do on double bass. Guitarists generally have available to them two whole

steps between their first and fourth fingers. Traditionally bassists only have one whole step

available. Using Rabbath pivot technique bassists can use similar fingering patters to the

guitar for these rapid passages.

The last technical aspect of note is the percussive rhythms at measure 75 - 83. Flamenco

guitarists make use of tapping on the top of their guitar regularly for rhythmic effect. Since

strings on the guitar are very close to the top of the instrument, flamenco guitarists are able

1Assumed name of Agustín Castellón Campos

2Sabicas, Flamenco On Fire.
3Pohren, Lives and Legends of Flamenco, 302.
 33

to use their pinky finger or the side of their hand for these percussive effects in between

strumming patterns. On double bass this is not as viable an option as the top of the

instrument is a much greater distance from the strings. Due to the nature of this passage, the

simplest approach is to use one hand to pluck the strings while the other plays the rhythm.

Since the root notes are all open strings, for the first seven measures one can use either

left-hand pizzicato and tap with the right hand, or perform pizzicato with the right hand and

tap with the left hand on the upper bought of the double bass. Preference here should be

deferred to whichever area of a given bass produces the preferred tapping tone.

The last two measures of this passage do not use open strings to play the harmony, nor

do they allow time to move the hand from the strings to the bass between notes. Therefore, a

different tapping technique must be used. For this portion the tapping should be created by

flattening the left hand and ‘slapping’ it against the fingerboard over the strings. This creates

a percussive tap while keeping the hands very close to playing position for the fingered

harmony.
Figure B.1 (p. 1 of 7) 34
Figure B.1 (p. 2 of 7) 35
Figure B.1 (p. 3 of 7) 36
Figure B.1 (p. 4 of 7) 37
Figure B.1 (p. 5 of 7) 38
Figure B.1 (p. 6 of 7) 39
Figure B.1 (p. 7 of 7) 40
 41

APPENDIX C: SEGUIRIYAS

This seguiriyas is an arrangement of a recording by Paco Peña from his 1987 record

Flamenco Guitar Music of Ramón Montoya and Niño Ricardo.1 As is common in flamenco

music, this seguiriyas of Paco Peña is derived from the seguiriyas of Niño Ricardo, which can

be heard on the album Vintage Flamenco Guitarra Nº 14 - EPs Collectors “Toques Flamencos

De Guitarra” which is a collection of early recordings that are no longer available.2

The seguiriyas consists of a collection of falsetas (short melodic fragments) interspersed

with rhythmic strumming. When comparing the recording of Peña and Ricardo, one will

notice that Peña assimilates some of the falsetas that Ricardo uses, but not others. Also one

will notice that some of the falsetas are more heavily modified than others. This is a common

practice that can be seen throughout flamenco music.

In this arrangement the playing of Paco Peña is adapted for solo double bass. The

arrangement demonstrates the possibilities for adapting flamenco guitar technique to the

double bass.

One of the most apparent techniques used in this arrangement is the rasgueado, which is

integral to the performance of the seguiriya. Seguiriyas have rhythmic strumming patterns

interspersed between the falsetas. These patterns use strikes of individual fingers an in

outward flicking motion to create the effect of rapid-fire metered strums.

The guitar technique to perform a rasgueado is ineffective on the double bass due to the

distance between its strings, as well as their composition and tension. To adapt this

technique on the double bass two approaches are used. One is an un-metered outward

‘raking’ motion notated as . This motion is performed by holding the right hand

90-degrees to the strings with a loosely closed fist, then the fingers are fanned outward,

pinky first, striking the strings as they expand.

1Peña, Paco, Flamenco Guitar Music of Ramón Montoya and Niño Ricardo.
2Niño Ricardo, Vintage Flamenco Guitarra Nº 14 - EPs Collectors “Toques Flamencos De Guitarra”, CD (Vintage
Music, 2011).
 42

This motion is used for isolated bursts of sound. The raking is used in part to simulate

the heavy effect of the rasgueado. Generally, on the double bass a chord must be reduced to

two or three strings, while the guitar can get up to six notes in a single strum. On the double

bass one must use multiple rapid events to get a similar amount of sonic activity in a single

event, thus the raking motion.

The other adaptation for the rasgueado is a triplet pattern derived by strumming with the

fingers and thumb notated as such . This technique is executed by using the first

through fourth fingers together in an outward ‘flick’ at about a 60 degree angle to the strings.

This is followed by a wrist turn outward to strum the strings with the underside of the

thumb. Finally, the wrist is turned back in while the fingers are closed, to deliver the final

strum with the underside of the fingers.

This pattern can be converted to a sixteenth note pattern by adding an upstroke with the

thumb following the down-stroke of the thumb. Furthermore the pattern can be repeated

immediately in succession to create a continuous stream of triplet or sixteenth note strums.

In the above notation the fingers or thumb are represented by f and t respectively. This is

similar to guitar notation indicating p i m a s for thumb, index, middle, ring, or pinky fingers.

The direction of the arrows in both the raking and triplet notations are significant. An

upward facing arrow indicates moving the fingers away from the body, while a downward

facing arrow indicates moving the fingers towards the body. Generally, in the raking

notation the arrow will only indicate moving away. The other notation, however, may

indicate a combination of outward and inward motions.

Additional indications are made to indicate hamer-on and pull-off gestures. These are

indicated with H and P above the notes respectively. In the calmer sections of the seguiriyas

these techniques are utilized to create a seemingly more legato line even when playing

pizzicato.

The hammer-on is performed by plucking the string with the right hand with the note
 43

before the ‘H’ depressed. The note under the ‘H’ is then played with the left-hand only. The

left hand must work forcefully. The result is the pitch of the second note ringing without a

separate pizzicato attack.

The pull-off works as a hammer-on in reverse. The note prior to the ‘P’ is fingered with

the left hand and plucked with the right. The choice of left hand finger must be so that it uses

higher finger number than the following note. The higher fingers of the left hand are then

removed, leaving the finger depressed for the note under the ‘P’. This has a similar effect as

the hammer-on, in that the second note sounds without a separate attack.

The seguiriyas is to be performed freely, particularly the transitions between falsetas and

interspersed strumming. Some of the falsetas, especially the ones at rehearsal letters C, E

and G, are to be played rhythmically with ‘groove’ to emphasize the underlying rhythm of

the seguiriyas.
Figure C.1 (p. 1 of 5) 44
Figure C.1 (p. 2 of 5) 45
Figure C.1 (p. 3 of 5) 46
Figure C.1 (p. 4 of 5) 47
Figure C.1 (p. 5 of 5) 48
 49
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