Pictures of the masters

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Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

Pictures of the masters

I was looking through Graf-Martinez' website, and he has some images of Paco, Tomatito, etc. playing various techniques. One thing--I often could not emulate what they were doing. Particularly in picado, these guys seem to be hyperextending their fingers, so that the segment fo the finger closest to the hand is in line with it. I could not do this, let alone play like this!

Another thing is that their hands appeared to be in great tension, although none more so than Tomatito. His playing style is so wild and crazy that it is just amazing that he achieves the results he does.

It was especially interesting to me that both Paco and Manolo Sanlucar played with this hyperextended motion. I was under the impression they were contemporaries, and would thus assume that both had come to their playing styles at the same time. If so, then it would seem Manolo didn't copy Paco, but that this hand position came from somewhere else. If so, then who? Of course, it is possible than Manolo, having already mastered the guitar and gotten a name for himself, copied Paco later and changed how he did things.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 8 2005 17:26:19

Ricardo

Posts: 14892
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Pictures of the masters (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

Don't trust yourself too much on the way you are seeing still images. More important is movement. Get the Rito y Geographia vid to see all these guys PLAYING. The curled fingers w/ top joint in line w/ hand comes from Nino Ricardo, also in Rito. Maybe someone did it before him. Tomatito has a pretty "payo" looking technique for a gypsy IMO, copying the Ricardo style. Most gypsies look more "crazy" like Sabicas, jumping between bent and straight fingers. To me "tense" is Julian Bream and relaxed is Manolo Sanlucar. So I don't really agree w/ what you said at all. Don't go from just still images. Don't try to change your hands now either. Just play.

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 8 2005 19:28:46

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Pictures of the masters (in reply to Ricardo)

Ricardo,
I'm not going to change, amigo, I'm just going to TOCALO!

I remember watching the Rito stuff and really enjoying it. You're right, the still pictures seem so different from what I remember of watching these guys play. It's kind of like the golf magazines, they take a series of pictures of the swing, of what is essentially a circular and rhythmic motion.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 8 2005 21:31:10

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: Pictures of the masters (in reply to Ricardo)

Ricardo,
You've mentioned that Rito Y Geographia video before, but I can't seem to find it. Could that be because it's spelled "GeograFIA" (with a "F") instead? As there are lots of videos/DVDs listed at www.Flamenco-world.com under this title. If it is one of these, which one is it? Thanks.

James

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 9 2005 10:21:21

Ricardo

Posts: 14892
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Pictures of the masters (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

Rito y Geografia del Toque, 4 DVD or 6 VHS (green box). They were the guitar programs extracted from the larger Rito y Geografia del Cante series.

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 9 2005 23:23:11

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: Pictures of the masters (in reply to JBASHORUN)

quote:

ORIGINAL: JBASHORUN

Ricardo,
You've mentioned that Rito Y Geographia video before, but I can't seem to find it. Could that be because it's spelled "GeograFIA" (with a "F") instead? As there are lots of videos/DVDs listed at www.Flamenco-world.com under this title. If it is one of these, which one is it? Thanks.

Here you go, you can get them in the UK too. They're on my wish list - looks like an amazing collection:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?U1C5214AA

jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 10 2005 7:55:58

Ricardo

Posts: 14892
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Pictures of the masters (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

quote:

hey're on my wish list - looks like an amazing collection:

Oh man it is so great. One stop shopping for flamenco guitar aficionados. This is the only video collection that as something for EVERYONE. Doesn't matter if you are into good ol' Diego or super high tech Tomatito, there is something in it for you to enjoy and learn from. And the camera work is perfect for guitar students, great angles real close up on the hands at key moments in the performances, down the neck, over the shoulder, etc. Priceless to someone like myself. DVD is better because there is SO much material, you will want to jump around rather than sit and watch it all.

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 10 2005 8:55:59