Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
i read jasonwebster's book "duende a journey in search of flamenco" last week, and i must say whilst some of it was interesting the prevailing sentiment i got from the book was that the flamenco world in referece to the gitanos is seedy, fuelled by cocaine,theft alcohol and self torment. there were some snippets about the greats in the book, but it was at times implausible such as the author jason claiming to have mastered the guitar in less than 2yrs of constant play.
anyone else read this book?btw i did'nt buy it, got it from the local library.
Posts: 15268
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: jason websters duende (in reply to henrym3483)
I met a guy who spent only ONE year in Spain with a gypsy family. He never played guitar or musical instruments before, but came back playing Tomatito falsetas perfectly in compas, Solea por Bulerias, Alegrias, bulerias, etc. I could only imagine if he had stayed an extra year. And I doubt he was practicing "constantly". He just learned properly the Spanish way, by wrote.
About the the other stuff, well I did not read the book, but that stuff is certainly going on.
RE: jason websters duende (in reply to henrym3483)
quote:
anyone else read this book?
An "English Spaniard" recommended this book to me. She is not From a Flamenco region of Spain, and so knows very little about Flamenco. But she said it was fascinating. I added it to me "to read" list... along with about a million other books.
RE: jason websters duende (in reply to henrym3483)
Henry, Jason's book was done to death somewhere in a 3 page thread on this Forum last year, including law suits etc LOL! If the "search" function works (I can't get it to find anything) then you'll get everyone's opinions there!
btw that bit with paco relieving his bladder with jason behind the alhambra was kinda funny, but i doubt it given that paco being a millionaire artist would have had a porta-loo or sumthing for these needs.
heh i got the link for the other threads, but not the 3page thread about the law suit etc.
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
RE: jason websters duende (in reply to henrym3483)
quote:
ORIGINAL: henrym3483
btw that bit with paco relieving his bladder with jason behind the alhambra was kinda funny, but i doubt it given that paco being a millionaire artist would have had a porta-loo or sumthing for these needs.
He did though I've heard this anecdote before I ever read Duende. Its an urban legend round these parts. The bit about the drug dealing Priest in Plaza Nueva was pretty far fetched as well.
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
RE: jason websters duende (in reply to henrym3483)
quote:
ORIGINAL: henrym3483 is this stuff still going on?
Yes it is, its a traditional custom and still practised in traditional communities. There was a big fuss in The Telegraph, a UK paper about this happening at Farruquito's wedding, as they claimed it was humiliating, which is not how it is seen in the Gitano community where it is a source of pride, oh and they said it was televised.
I've been invited to a Gypsy wedding next year and the bride wants me there for this. It's an honour.
Cant remember what Webster said about it in his book.
seems a bit extreme to test the purity of the woman, even if it is an arranged marriage. i personally found the scene in the book a bit shocking. i think webster said something about an ajunctora testing her, and that there was some misgivings as to whether the bride was pure,and alot of tension befoe the result was known.
RE: jason websters duende (in reply to henrym3483)
quote:
met a guy who spent only ONE year in Spain with a gypsy family. He never played guitar or musical instruments before, but came back playing Tomatito falsetas perfectly in compas, Solea por Bulerias, Alegrias, bulerias, etc. I could only imagine if he had stayed an extra year. And I doubt he was practicing "constantly". He just learned properly the Spanish way, by wrote. ricardo
what i would'nt give to get outta ireland for a year and do that.
Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía
RE: jason websters duende (in reply to henrym3483)
quote:
ORIGINAL: henrym3483 seems a bit extreme to test the purity of the woman, even if it is an arranged marriage. i personally found the scene in the book a bit shocking.
I dont have a problem with it as long as it is the bride's choice. Why should she not show off her purity. I would think if there was any doubt the bride would not be willing. I also suspect that there are ways of making sure the hankerchief shows the right result.
Printable Version
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread