''Alegrías'' () is a

flamenco Flamenco (), in its strictest sense, is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, developed within the gitano subculture of the region of Andalusia, and also having historical presence in Extremadura a ...

palo or musical form, which has a rhythm consisting of 12 beats. It is similar to Soleares. Its beat emphasis is as follows: 1 2 '' 4 5 '' 7 '' 9 0'' 11 2''. Alegrías originated in

Cádiz Cádiz (, , ) is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the Province of Cádiz, one of eight that make up the autonomous community of Andalusia. Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, ...

. Alegrías belongs to the group of ''palos'' called

Cantiñas The ''cantiñas'' () is a group of flamenco ''palos'' (musical forms), originated in the area of Cádiz in Andalusia (although some styles of cantiña have developed in the province of Seville). They share the same ''compás'' or rhythmic pattern ...

and it is usually played in a lively rhythm (120-170 beats per minute). The livelier speeds are chosen for dancing, while quieter rhythms are preferred for the song alone. One of the structurally strictest forms of flamenco, a traditional dance in alegrías must contain each of the following sections: a salida (entrance), paseo (walkaround), silencio (similar to an adagio in ballet), castellana (upbeat section) zapateado (literally "a tap of the foot") and bulerías. This structure though, is not followed when alegrías are sung as a standalone song (with no dancing). In that case, the stanzas are combined freely, sometimes together with other types of

cantiñas The ''cantiñas'' () is a group of flamenco ''palos'' (musical forms), originated in the area of Cádiz in Andalusia (although some styles of cantiña have developed in the province of Seville). They share the same ''compás'' or rhythmic pattern ...

. Recommended listenings for this ''palo'' include most singers from Cádiz, like

Chano Lobato Chano Lobato (December 1927 in Cadiz – 5 April 2009 in Seville) was a Spanish flamenco singer. Born in the Santa María neighborhood of Cadiz, he began performing at nightclubs in his hometown and later moved to Madrid, where he joined Alej ...

, La Perla de Cádiz, Aurelio Sellé, but also general singers like

Manolo Caracol Manuel Ortega Juárez (9 July 1909 – 24 February 1973) was a Spanish flamenco cantaor (singer). Life and family Born in Seville, Spain, he was descended from a long line of flamenco artists including Enrique Ortega (father and son) and Cur ...

or La Niña de los Peines. Also, you can listen "Mar Amargo" from Camarón and "La Tarde es Caramelo" from Vicente Amigo. It is one of the cante chico forms of flamenco. The word Alegrías literally means "joys."

Sources

ÁLVAREZ CABALLERO, Ángel: ''La discoteca ideal del flamenco'', Editorial Planeta, Barcelona, 1995

External links

Flamenco Institute Flora Albaicín.
Flamenco dance company and academy (the oldest and biggest of its kind in the world).
Flamenco Forum
Flamenco styles Spanish music Andalusian music Spanish dances Spanish folk music {{music-genre-stub