Caracoles

Song which verse consists in a sequence of strophes with verses of different measures. Belongs to a group denominated cantiñas and very close musically to alegrías and even closer to mirabrás, with a tendency to baroquism and arabesc. It receives this name from the chorus that ends the 'cante', probably derived from a song of the album "El genio de Andalucia" of Manuel Sanz, entitled  "La Caracolera". The lyrics are generally fun and sometimes 'spicy' and the word 'caracoles' is introduced between the strophes and as a chorus. 'Toque' is only realised in do major and  the measure is the same that the one of soleares, alegrías and bulerías.
Flamenco dance: women's own, due to the wavy movements, just like soleares or peteneras. It is possible that it comes from another dance of the modern school of 'palillos', known under the name of 'caracoles clásicos'.

Tío José el Granaíno is considered as the creator of the flamenco version of these songs. Furthermore, caracoles were introduced thanks to him as 'cantiñas para bailar' in the singing cafés of Madrid. However, who has truely reformed them, recreated them, who has given them all their success, their flamenco character and contributed to their diffusion is Antonio Chacón. Since him, caracoles have always been associated to his creative personality. Caracoles first seemed to Cachón to be a 'small' song and he decided to tidy it up, introducing intonations of romera in the first part and adding musical details and parts from other 'cantiñas'. This is how caracoles turned out to be a song to listen to. One of the lyrics registered by Chacón appears in the Zarzuela of Soriano Fuertes Jeroma 'la castañera of 1843. Many people say that this cante is native from Madrid, due to the caracoles which original verse was changed by Antonio Chacón. The original verse says: "Santa Cruz de Mudéjar / como reluce / cuando suben y bajan / los andaluces". Then Chacón substituted it by "La gran calle de Alcalá". Caracoles, like the rest of the cantiñas, adapt them to the measure of soleá. Nowadays some singers have this style in their repertoire, like Naranjito de Triana and Chano Lobato who have their logical shapes and personal intonations.

Comes from: Sanlúcar de Barrameda