Impressionistic Flamenco-Indian Fusion
by Matthew Montfort
Guitar Trek
"Tres Tarantas Tres" is the first release from Matthew Montfort’s upcoming third solo project, Guitar Trek, a trip around the world via the guitar.
Tres Tarantas Tres
The Tres Tarantas Tres double single is Matthew Montfort's first solo release on flamenco guitar, inspired by flamenco, Indian raga, and impressionism.
Tarantas is toque libre, a free form expression that lacks compás (rhythmic cycle) and a regular beat, so it could be characterized as rubato. Tarantos is a related palo (form or style) in duple meter that is danceable. They share the F# Phrygian modality and the harmonic progression Bm-A7-G-F#. Both palos include dissonances that result from the use of the guitar's first three open strings in combination with harmonies and melodies in the F# Phrygian mode.
A raga could be described as melodic recipe for a mood in Indian classical music. Tarantas has similarities to alap, the section of a raga where the mood is thoroughly explored without tempo before the tabla enters. "Tarantas Alap" is an improvised introduction to "Tres Tarantas Tres" that combines the flamenco tarantas palo with Indian alap.
Composed in 2012, "Tres Tarantas Tres" was inspired by tarantas and tarantos. It was also influenced by Indian classical music, and uses some slide techniques from South Indian vina music. As the name implies, the piece has its own unique compás of three series of three beat phrases, with both rubato and in tempo passages. It even makes a foray into impressionism à la "Gymnopédies" by Erik Satie.
There’s some similarity between flamenco palos and Indian ragas. Flamenco music is perhaps a product of the cross-cultural exchange that resulted from the Calé people migrating from India to Andalucia. Indian and flamenco dance traditions both feature complex rhythms and footwork.
Contact: Ancient-Future.Com Records
415-459-1892 (no texts)
info@ancient-future.com
Single: https://orcd.co/3tarantas3 (Participating Digital Music Platforms)
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