Bulería

Bulería (plural: bulerías; "racket, shouting, din", from burlar, "to mock") is a fast flamenco rhythm in 12 beats with emphasis in two general forms as follows:


 * 1 2 [3] 4 5 [6] 7 [8] 9 [10] 11 [12]


 * or


 * 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 [7] [8] 9 [10] 11 [12]

It may also be broken down into a measure of 6/8 followed by a measure of 3/4 counted as such:


 * [12] - - [3] - - [6] - [8] - [10] -


 * [12] 1 2 [3] 4 5 [6] 7 [8] 9 [10] 11

When performed, the bulería usually starts on beat twelve of the compás, so the accented beat is heard first.

It is played at about 240 beats per minute, most commonly in an A Phrygian mode, with a sharpened third to make A major the root chord. A typical rasgueado (a strumming pattern that sets the rhythm) involves only the A and B-flat chords as follows:


 * A A [Bb] - - [Bb] A [A] A [A] - [A]

It originated in Jerez during the 19th century, originally as a fast, upbeat ending to soleares or alegrías (which share the same rhythm and are still often ended this way). It is among the most popular and dramatic of the flamenco forms and often ends any flamenco gathering. It is the style which permits the greatest freedom for improvisation, the meter playing a crucial role in this. Speed and agility are required and total control of rhythm as well as strength in the feet which are used in intricate tapping with toe, heel and the ball of the foot. It is the only flamenco dance style which permits leaping by the male dancer.

Cante
When sung, the bulería has three or four octosyllabic lines. It is sometimes subdivided into bulerías al golpe (also known as bulerías por soleá) and bulerías ligadas. The former is slower and the latter frantic.