Introducing Manos de Plomo

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Manos de Plomo

Posts: 8
Joined: Apr. 29 2011
From: Salem, Oregon

Introducing Manos de Plomo

I am happy to have become a member of this interesting forum.

Over forty-five years ago, a guitar-playing doctor described Flamenco and advised me to see a touring guitarist, the late Carlos Montoya. In obtaining the RCA Victor recording, 'Carlos Montoya and his Flamenco guitar', I found a work that remains fresh. His concerts, which I attended from the 1960s through the '80s, were sublime even toward the end when, as an older man, it took a bit more time for him to build an Andalusian muse that seemed three dimensional.

Montoya was a wizard, however, a few elements were missing from his work: singers, dancers, and percussionists. Moreover, Montoya's concerts never veered off a single, repeated playlist by so much as a note. As it is said that Vivaldi didn't write many compositions but one composition many times, Montoya performed only one concert, but repeatedly.

So here I am, close to Portland, Oregon, hoping to find dancers and singers to accompany. I'll play a cheap flamenco guitar as do many great Gypsy musicians. Do you believe that I am mistaken, that all great musicians play only instruments that are prohibitively expensive? Then have a look at 'Flamenco', a documentary film by Carlos Saura. Many of the musicians play so percussively that holes have been worn into the tops of their guitars. I can't imagine that this was done to a thousand-dollar instrument. Can you imagine a hole worn into the top of a Hauser? It would be enough to make a grown man cry.

If you know of any amateur Flamenco groups in Oregon's Willamette Valley, please let me know how to contact them.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sr. Manos de Plomo
Prepare for enchantment

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 23 2012 21:09:59

El Kiko

Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland

RE: Introducing Manos de Plomo (in reply to Manos de Plomo)

hi hello and welcome ... first of all what a great name to have , it says a lot about you ...

there are some Montoya recordings and manuscript around here somewhere look forward to hearing you play something as well

_____________________________

Don't trust Atoms.....they make up everything.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 23 2012 21:26:38

BarkellWH

Posts: 3461
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Introducing Manos de Plomo (in reply to Manos de Plomo)

Bienvenidos, Manos de Plomo,

Forgive the presumptuousness of my observation, but why do the various elements of your post (comparing Carlos Montoya with Vivaldi, playing a cheap guitar to avoid holes in a Hauser--a Hauser flamenco?!--even your "Nom de Plume"-Manos de Plomo!) make me think you are are engaging in a send-up? a vaguely amusing send-up, but a send-up nevertheless?

Why the introductory post today from someone who joined April 29, 2011? Are you a Foro member posting under a changed name and avatar? In any case, bienvenidos, and as you advise under your name, I am "prepared for enchantment."

Cheers,

Bill

_____________________________

And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 23 2012 21:41:46

rogeliocan

Posts: 811
Joined: Nov. 23 2009
From: Canada

RE: Introducing Manos de Plomo (in reply to BarkellWH)

ditto.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 23 2012 21:55:08

Manos de Plomo

Posts: 8
Joined: Apr. 29 2011
From: Salem, Oregon

RE: Introducing Manos de Plomo (in reply to Manos de Plomo)

Thank you, El Kiko, BarkellWH, and rogeliocan, for your response to my self-introduction.

Bill, I have given due consideration to your post. In my position, it would be prudent not to continue engaging in a send-up. Accordingly, I shall change my forum name soon.

I wish to learn from all of you in our future contacts.

Respectfully,

Bob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 25 2012 3:42:07

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3433
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Introducing Manos de Plomo (in reply to BarkellWH)

Welcome, Manos de Plomo!

quote:

ORIGINAL: BarkellWH

-a Hauser flamenco?!

You probably know that Mario Escudero recorded one of his best selling albums on a Hauser. No capo, no golpes, but still muy flamenco.

He also notoriously said, "There are no classical guitars or flamenco guitars, just good guitars and bad guitars."

Not sure I'd agree, but he never denied saying it, that I know of.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 25 2012 4:21:11

Manos de Plomo

Posts: 8
Joined: Apr. 29 2011
From: Salem, Oregon

RE: Introducing Manos de Plomo (in reply to Manos de Plomo)

Thank you, Richard. If any of you have accompanied singers or dancers, it would be interesting to read an account of your experiences.

_____________________________

Bob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 30 2012 20:03:58

orsonw

Posts: 1943
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: Introducing Manos de Plomo (in reply to Manos de Plomo)

quote:

I'll play a cheap flamenco guitar as do many great Gypsy musicians. Do you believe that I am mistaken, that all great musicians play only instruments that are prohibitively expensive? Then have a look at 'Flamenco', a documentary film by Carlos Saura.

Nothing wrong with playing on an inexpensive guitar but I guess you are joking about the film- it's filled with multi-thousand dollar guitars! Conde, Lester Devoe, Barba, Ramirez etc.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 31 2012 6:56:44

Ricardo

Posts: 14897
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Introducing Manos de Plomo (in reply to Manos de Plomo)

quote:

Many of the musicians play so percussively that holes have been worn into the tops of their guitars. I can't imagine that this was done to a thousand-dollar instrument. Can you imagine a hole worn into the top of a Hauser? It would be enough to make a grown man cry.

Actually, it is a necessary evil of flamenco yes. the gopleadores eventually need changing if the guitar is played a lot. Some hits outside of the tap guard are inevitable as well especially for those generous enough to pass their personal battle axe around to others at a juerga (part of the flamenco lifestyle). To put the crying thing into perspective...Conde or Gerundino or Ramirez (guitars in flamenco film) 5-10 k range. Hauser...30-40K range!!!!!

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 1 2012 13:04:04

Manos de Plomo

Posts: 8
Joined: Apr. 29 2011
From: Salem, Oregon

RE: Introducing Manos de Plomo (in reply to Manos de Plomo)

Ricardo, I apologize for the tardy reply. Whether soloist or accompanist, the use of percussion is a matter of taste and circumstance.

Some criticized Carlos Montoya for failure to assault and batter his guitar. I don't understand this. He did use some percussion; many of his other interpretations fared perfectly well without it.

I believe that it is not necessary to be hidebound regarding these matters. The musical tradition speaks so directly to us that we will never let it disappear.

Best wishes for the success of your new recording,

Bob

_____________________________

Bob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 11 2012 1:19:42