21th – 9 p.m.
Cante: JOSÉ
MERCE (Jerez)
Guitar: MORAITO
CHICO
Cante: ANTONIA
CONTRERAS (Málaga)
Guitar: CHAPARRO
DE MÁLAGA
Cante: SONIA
MIRANDA (Almería)
Guitar: MIGUEL
ÁNGEL CORTÉS
Saturday 22 – 10 p.m.
Cante: CARMEN
LINARES (Linares, Jaén)
Guitars : JOSE
MANUEL LEÓN &
EDUARDO PACHECO
Baile: FUENSANTA
LA MONETA
(Granada)
“ FOR YOU TARANTOS ”
By the middle of the XIX century, mining splendour in the region of Almería was at its height, Almagrera Mountains, Menas de Serón, Rodalquilar, Gador Minings, etc., it was then that the precursors of mining singing appeared with the miners. This singings ("cantes") as known today as "taranta" and "taranto", and at that first stage we can mention important artists like el Cabogatero, el Ciego de la Playa, Pedro el Morato, el Tio Enrique, among others.
This important mining activity linked to the "cante", named miners from Almeria who emigrated to Linares or La Union as "tarantos".
In more recent times artists who sing this "cantes" are: Manuel Torre, Fosforito, Manolo Manzanilla, Juan Varea, Antonio Mairena, Gabriel Moreno, Chocolate, Camaron de la Isla, Rancapino, etc. ; Guitarist such as Sabicas, Juan Habichuela, Paco de Lucia, Tomatito, etc. ; In dancing , legend names like Carmen Amaya, Rosario, Maria de Albaicin, etc.
Specialists in "taranto" in Almeria we can never forget Juan Gomez and Jose Sorroche. There are also young "cantaoras" like Rocio Segura, Maria Jose Perez and Sonia Miranda.
The "Peña el Taranto" has played an important role in promoting and mantaining "Taranto Cante" along its more than 40 years of activity. Relevant proper names such as Rafael Monterreal, Cristóbal Muñoz, Antonio Zapata, Alfredo Sánchez, José Antonio López Alemán, Antonio Sevillano, Lola Benavides, Lucas López (honorary president).
We could never avoid mentionig the biographies of experts like José Blas Vega, Manuel Ríos Ruiz, Angel Alvaréz Caballero, José Manuel Gamboa, among many others.
This preface takes us to the XVII edition of this important flamenco event, already a tradition in the annual cultural programme of Madrid with "Taranto" as common link.
This year we have the privilege to present two important artist who were during the festivals 89/90 and 90/91, Carmen Linares and José Mercé. Besides, new artists who are opening his way to flamenco with a great success will be in this edition. This is the case of Antonia Contreras, Sonia Miranda, and Fuensanta "La Moneta", a new revelation in flamenco dancing.
In my opinion this is an attactive programme for all the "aficionados", where "Taranto" will represent our modest contribution to an important and historic festival as a tribute to Almería, where all the important artist of contemporary flamenco have participated, but the list should be to long for this short report.
We would like to thank the regular sponsors since the beginning: Culture Department of Almería City Hall, Unicaja Foundation and El Corte Inglés.
Taranto from Almería,"jondura, duende, emoción" , dedicated to all of you and our worker ancestors who showed their pain in the extremely hard mining work, with the "quejío" of "Taranto" as the only groaning.
A. Reyes
March 2006
