Óscar Herrero takes a detailed look at alegrías on three new videos - the latest additions to the series 'Guitarra flamenca paso a paso'

Flamenco-world.com

First came the lessons on basic technique and soleá; now Óscar Herrero has released more instructional material, this time dedicated to the alegrías style. The guitarist offers three videos, also available in DVD format, in which he guides the viewer through all there is to know about playing this style from Cadiz, whether it's as a solo guitarist or as accompaniment to cante. These videos are the latest additions to the series 'Guitarra flamenca paso a paso' -Step-by-step flamenco guitar- and are accompanied by the relevant musical scores and a CD containing the recordings shown.

The first video, entitled 'Los palos. Alegrías I', begins with Óscar Herrero playing the piece 'Miragua', with accompaniment on percussion. After this he gives a detailed explanation of the different elements which go to make up alegrías in the key of E, with particular emphasis on the cierre or finale, compás or rhythm, rasgueados or strumming techniques, melodies, falsetas, the remate which ends a phrase, and the llamada, or call, used as a communication link between dancer and guitarist. He studies each of these parts individually in detail - both at normal speed and at a slower pace, since the exercises are intended to be just as useful to guitarists with a minimal technical knowledge as they are to those who are somewhat more proficient.

In 'Los palos. Alegrías II' the guitarist gets down to studying alegrías in the keys of C and A, those which are commonly used to accompany vocal alegrías. And as in the first video, all of the elements are studied step-by-step and at varying speeds. Both come with their own printed complementary material in the form of a libretto, with musical scores and tablature.

The study of alegrías is rounded off with a third video, entitled 'Acompañamiento al cante por alegrías', dedicated to accompanying vocal performances in this palo. Óscar Herrero, as a warm-up, goes through some numbers playing solo guitar. He begins the lesson in this way to demonstrate different strumming formulas commonly used to accompany cante por alegrías. He also throws in three cantes which are sung with an alegrías rhythm: el mirabrás, la romera and los caracoles. The teaching method he uses consists of an initial presentation of each song, with María de Toledo's vocals accompanied by Óscar Herrero on guitar, followed by a performance of the same song with vocals, percussion and palmas, allowing the student to play along on guitar. As well as a libretto containing musical scores and tablature, this video comes complete with a CD of the eight songs used, with and without guitar.

As with previous educational videos from Óscar Herrero's 'Guitarra flamenca paso a paso' series, the new toque por alegrías offerings are available in Spanish, English, French and Japanese, for PAL, NTSC, VHS and DVD formats. The series, to which new additions are regularly added, currently comprises nine volumes: three on basic flamenco guitar technique, another three dedicated to soleá and the three new volumes which focus on alegrías.