La Serrana (hill song), like other flamenco styles, derives from old folk songs, or letrillas, from the second third of the 19th century, incorporated into flamenco. In the sixteenth century there was a lyrical Spanish song called the serranilla that seems to have a literary composition very similar to the serrana.
Regarding its geographical origin, researchers point to three possible places: the Serranía de Ronda and its surroundings, Córdoba and Huelva (Sierra de Aracena and Aroche). Its theme is closely linked to the mountains, it tells stories about bandits, smugglers, shepherds, etc., typical of the dynamics of the people who inhabit the area.
It is a song with four verse couplets, accompanied by guitar with a touch of seguiriya in Mi (C). In general, three parts are found: liviana (light), serrana properly speaking, and remate (conclusion). The serrana is a short song. The remate usually ends with a seguiriya of Perico Frascola, the seguiriya of María Borrico, or with verdiales or abandolaos airs.
The Serrana includes two essential aspects of human nature: passion and disenchantment. For passion, it uses treble, ascending with force and punch. In disenchantment, the bass must have the concept of abandonment towards its destiny. Any singer who has a good voice can achieve these tones, but not the feeling, whose form is only delivered by very special people, consecrated artists. It can be affirmed that the Serrana is a brave, deep and powerful song, with a lot of impetus and determination, extraordinarily melodious and catchy, with long and solemn phrases.
The great singer Silverio Franconetti (Seville, 1823-1889) was the one who popularized the Serrana, singing it especially at the Cafés de Cante in Jerez de la Frontera and San Fernando, and later in Córdoba. The first recording made was in 1893, in a wax cylinder, by Paco el de Montilla.
To date, eighty flamenco artists have recorded Cante por Serranas, including José Cepero, Niño de la Isla, José Menese, Antonio Mairena, Pepe Marchena, La Niña de los Peines, Antonio Molina, La Paquera de Jerez, Juanito Valderrama, Rocío Jurado, El Perro de Paterna, El Cabrero, Fosforito, José el de la Tomasa and Naranjito de Triana.
An annual contest, Concurso Nacional de Cante por Serranas de Prado del Rey, is held in Prado del Rey (Cadiz province).
[Source: Concurso Nacional de Cante por Serranas de Prado del Rey and Diputación de Cádiz, translated and edited by Angel Romero].
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