Soleá

Song with a 'copla' of three or four, eight syllable, verses, with a consonant rhyme. It could have originated in the XIX century, to acompany a dance called the 'jaleo'. However bit by bit it did turn into a song with its own identity. The first reference to this style is that of 'Andonda' a singer from Triana who went down in history for her singing, from this it can be deduced that the 'soleá' originated from Triana and despite this spread quickly. A gypsy called Paula went with all her family to Alcalá de Audaira, and founded there the 'saga de los Gordos' People took the song of 'soleá' from Triana however in the 'Virgen del Águila' a new autodidactic style arose that has lasted until today. According to Antonio Mairena, Joaquín el de la Paula is the most representative performer of this style, although Juan Talega and Manolito de Marcía have also to be mentioned. The 'soleá' arrived in Jerez by a similar way, where Antonio Frijones created another personal style. The richness of the 'soleá' in Cádiz would oblige us to mention an infinite number of artists and for which there is only room to mention El Mellizo, Paquirri el Guanté and Curro Durse. Utrera is a separate case, Mercé la Serneta from Jerez arrived in this very gypsy area of Sevilla to marry the father of the Alvarez Quinteros on their second wedding. There this gypsy developed her 'cante por soleá' and from this Rosario la del Colorao and Perrate take reference, who would end up creating their own style in this area Lebrija is the same type of case, where Jauniquin from Jerez, arrived with another very emphasised style. Other areas with their own style of 'soleá' are Marchena - 'la de la Tia Gilica' and Córdoba - 'Onofre', that takes reference from the 'trianero' style of Ramón el Ollero. It is one of the richest styles of flamenco at the moment, executed in 3/4 and can be accompanied by the guitar in modal tones 'por arriba' or 'por medio.