Characterization and Melodic Similarity of A Cappella Flamenco Cantes

This paper intends to research on the link between musical similarity and style and sub-style (variant) classification in the context of flamenco a cappella singing styles. Given the limitation of standard computational models for melodic characterization and similarity computation in this particular context, we have proposed a specific set of melodic features adapted to flamenco singing styles. In order to evaluate them, we have gathered a collection of music recordings from the most representative singers and have manually extracted those proposed features. Based on those features, we have defined a similarity measure between two performances and have validated their usefulness in differentiating several styles and variants. The main conclusion of this work is the need to incorporate specific musical features to the design of similarity measures for flamenco music so that flamencoadapted MIR systems can be develope

Comparative Melodic Analysis of A Cappella Flamenco Cantes.

Background in ethnomusicology and music analysis. A cappella singing styles (called cantes in the flamenco jargon) are among the most fundamental song styles within the flamenco repertoire. Until very recently, flamenco singers have been only using oral transmission to learn them. Because of this form of diffusion, melody has become one of the main musical facets to be listened to, remembered, elaborated and spread in flamenco singing styles. Moreover, melody has helped flamenco enthusiasts to remember and identify variants of a particular style or genre. A frequent discussion and unanswered question among flamenco scholars is how to quantify the similarity between two melodies, and how to use this similarity measure to differentiate different styles and variants among performers, and to study the roots and evolution of flamenco styles