Paseíllo (Procession or parade of the teams of toreros)
At the exact hour announced in the programs - the bullfights being spectacles characterized by punctuality, at least at the start - the notes of the trumpet sound over the rolling of drums to start the procession or parade of the teams of toreros, the beautiful preamble to the bullfight.This ends with the requisite salute given from close to the barrera, below the judge´s box, the bullfighters and their assistants withdraw, leaving the ring unobstructed so that the first bull may come forth. Above the door of the toril (gate through which the bull emerges) is the number, name, and weight of the animal whose entrance is ordered by another sound of the trumpets.
The bullfight has been divided, since early times, into three acts, or tercios:Picas, banderillas and the kill. The first two had no further purpose than to prepare the bull for the supreme act: the sword thrust. And we say, had, because nowdaysthe original purpose of the first act and the maneuvers with the muleta in the last have acquired importance and amplification, while other movements, formerly predominant, have passed into a secondary category.
First act: The pics
The first passes with the cape are duty if the assistants, and with regard to these most useful helpers the Regulations state that there may not be more than three peons in the ring to run the bulls, to restrain them and maneuver them.
The picadors come out after the bull has been "run" - that is when he has lost, because of the cape passes the fleetness of foot with which he came into the ring -. This allow the matador whose bull it is to demonstrate his art with a series of "lances" (passes with the large cape). The work of the picadors is originated from the necessity to lessen the strength of the bulls by means of the punishment inflicted by the point of the lance. The point of the lance must be placed in the highest part of the bull's neck muscle, pressing forward on the pole, and wothout obstructing the exit for the bull.
After each lance thrust has been completed, the matador comes in to make the "quite" (to draw the bull away),which is one of the most exciting moments of the bullfight, because it provides the opportunity for the torero to show off his outstanding repertory of passes with the cape. When the authority who presides over the corrida thinks that there has been sufficient punishment by the pics, he orders the change of tercio.
Second act: Banderillas
In this tercio, the shortest of the bullfight, the power of the bull is further decreased by punishment with the banderillas. Its effects are, without a doubt, to stimulate the bellicosity of the bull by repeated pricking with the small barbs.
The banderillas are placed in pairs, and are entrusted to the assistants or to the banderilleros. Ocassionally, in order to show off his complete talents, the matador himself will place them.
Last Act: The faena
The most important part of the bullfight is here that the preparation of the bull for the sword thrust, the classic ending of the bullfight, takes place by means of passes with the muleta; although in the spectacle of today the principal interest is no longer in the sword thrust, but in the passes that precede it. In the work "Los Toros", the excellent treatise of José Ma. de Cossio, the various passes with the muleta are divided into three groups: naturales, cambiados and ayudados. The first comprises all those in which the matador passes the bull on the same side as that of the hand in which he holds the muleta; the second, those in which he atracts the bull's attention from the side the muleta is held, and passes it to the opposite side; and the third, those passes made with both hands.
There are several different ways of performing the kill. Cossio divides it into three basic groups:
- a) Volapié (with flying feet).
- b) Recibiendo (Receiving).
- c) A un tiempo (simultaneously).
The Regulations state exactly how long the final tercio should last, to prevent a matador who is not very skillful, or who is unlucky with the sword, from prolonging interminably an act that should be brief. The time allowed, from the beginning of the tercio until the bull collapses, is sixteen minutes. At the end of twelve minutes the first "aviso" (warning) is given by a note of the trumpet; two minutes later, the second; and the third at the end of sixteen. Immediately, the supposed matador and all the other toreros must retire to the callejon so that the cabestros (trained steers) can then enter the ring and lead the batterde bull to the corral.
When the performance of the matador has been outstanding, he receives the applause of the audience, going out to the "tercio" or taking one of the several turns around the ring, according to the wishes of the public, who may ask for, and the president award, one ear, or both ears, or both ears and the tail, which are cut off from the bull before it is dragged out by the mules.These are given to the matador as symbolic trophies. In some cases even a hoof has been granted, but this indulgence is prohibited by the Regulations.
The bullfight has been divided, since early times, into three acts, or tercios:Picas, banderillas and the kill. The first two had no further purpose than to prepare the bull for the supreme act: the sword thrust. And we say, had, because nowdaysthe original purpose of the first act and the maneuvers with the muleta in the last have acquired importance and amplification, while other movements, formerly predominant, have passed into a secondary category.
The picadors come out after the bull has been "run" - that is when he has lost, because of the cape passes the fleetness of foot with which he came into the ring -. This allow the matador whose bull it is to demonstrate his art with a series of "lances" (passes with the large cape). The work of the picadors is originated from the necessity to lessen the strength of the bulls by means of the punishment inflicted by the point of the lance. The point of the lance must be placed in the highest part of the bull's neck muscle, pressing forward on the pole, and wothout obstructing the exit for the bull.
After each lance thrust has been completed, the matador comes in to make the "quite" (to draw the bull away),which is one of the most exciting moments of the bullfight, because it provides the opportunity for the torero to show off his outstanding repertory of passes with the cape. When the authority who presides over the corrida thinks that there has been sufficient punishment by the pics, he orders the change of tercio.
In this tercio, the shortest of the bullfight, the power of the bull is further decreased by punishment with the banderillas. Its effects are, without a doubt, to stimulate the bellicosity of the bull by repeated pricking with the small barbs.
The banderillas are placed in pairs, and are entrusted to the assistants or to the banderilleros. Ocassionally, in order to show off his complete talents, the matador himself will place them.
Last Act: The faena
The most important part of the bullfight is here that the preparation of the bull for the sword thrust, the classic ending of the bullfight, takes place by means of passes with the muleta; although in the spectacle of today the principal interest is no longer in the sword thrust, but in the passes that precede it. In the work "Los Toros", the excellent treatise of José Ma. de Cossio, the various passes with the muleta are divided into three groups: naturales, cambiados and ayudados. The first comprises all those in which the matador passes the bull on the same side as that of the hand in which he holds the muleta; the second, those in which he atracts the bull's attention from the side the muleta is held, and passes it to the opposite side; and the third, those passes made with both hands.
There are several different ways of performing the kill. Cossio divides it into three basic groups:
- a) Volapié (with flying feet).
- b) Recibiendo (Receiving).
- c) A un tiempo (simultaneously).
The Regulations state exactly how long the final tercio should last, to prevent a matador who is not very skillful, or who is unlucky with the sword, from prolonging interminably an act that should be brief. The time allowed, from the beginning of the tercio until the bull collapses, is sixteen minutes. At the end of twelve minutes the first "aviso" (warning) is given by a note of the trumpet; two minutes later, the second; and the third at the end of sixteen. Immediately, the supposed matador and all the other toreros must retire to the callejon so that the cabestros (trained steers) can then enter the ring and lead the batterde bull to the corral.
When the performance of the matador has been outstanding, he receives the applause of the audience, going out to the "tercio" or taking one of the several turns around the ring, according to the wishes of the public, who may ask for, and the president award, one ear, or both ears, or both ears and the tail, which are cut off from the bull before it is dragged out by the mules.These are given to the matador as symbolic trophies. In some cases even a hoof has been granted, but this indulgence is prohibited by the Regulations.
There are several different ways of performing the kill. Cossio divides it into three basic groups:
The Regulations state exactly how long the final tercio should last, to prevent a matador who is not very skillful, or who is unlucky with the sword, from prolonging interminably an act that should be brief. The time allowed, from the beginning of the tercio until the bull collapses, is sixteen minutes. At the end of twelve minutes the first "aviso" (warning) is given by a note of the trumpet; two minutes later, the second; and the third at the end of sixteen. Immediately, the supposed matador and all the other toreros must retire to the callejon so that the cabestros (trained steers) can then enter the ring and lead the batterde bull to the corral.
- a) Volapié (with flying feet).
- b) Recibiendo (Receiving).
- c) A un tiempo (simultaneously).
When the performance of the matador has been outstanding, he receives the applause of the audience, going out to the "tercio" or taking one of the several turns around the ring, according to the wishes of the public, who may ask for, and the president award, one ear, or both ears, or both ears and the tail, which are cut off from the bull before it is dragged out by the mules.These are given to the matador as symbolic trophies. In some cases even a hoof has been granted, but this indulgence is prohibited by the Regulations.