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I just finished reading this historical novel by Paco Sevilla. I found it to be very interesting and it gave me a ton of perspective on the origins of flamenco. Best of all it wasn't written like a text book. Very readable. Anyone else read it? Opinions?
Near the end the author reports that Chacón decided to begin singing the cante in Castilian Spanish rather than the slang/gypsy/whatever that was a part of the traditional way. Does anyone know what the current trend is? Did Chacón's idea catch on? The author does not elaborate further on this.
i read the interview with the writer:http://www.flamencobooks.com/article02.shtml and sound great book. i'll order it and may be we can discuss later about it. thank you for sharing this.
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This is hard stuff! Don't give up... And don't make it a race. Enjoy the ray of sunshine that comes with every new step in knowledge.
I also greatly enjoyed reading Seeking Silverio; in fact, I've read it twice. Paco Sevilla does a great job of bringing late 19th-century Andalusia alive, as well as the flamenco of that era. I can also strongly recommend Sevilla's biography of Carmen Amaya, Queen of the Gypsies, which also serves as an excellent history of the flamenco of the first half of the 20th century. This is with special emphasis on the traveling troupes of performers who were largely responsible for bringing flamenco into the consciousness of the rest of Europe and America.
Hey Runner, glad to hear the good review on the Amaya bio. I wasn't too interested until I read a review that basically said it's a history of flamenco as well, including a whole chapter on Sabicas. Sounds good, I'll have to get it soon. Sounds like it kind of picks up a bit after Seeking Silverio.
Scott, I guarantee that you will find the Amaya bio a treasure trove of fascinating information/history of the flamenco of the first half of the last century. Sevilla is an excellent writer, and knows his subject inside-out. Queen of the Gypsies is the centerpiece of Sevilla's trilogy of works covering the evolution of flamenco from the beginnings of the cafe cantante period, then its spread via the artists of the traveling troupes, and ending with the era of PdL. Great stuff, and essential for a solid understanding of this fantastic art form! Enjoy!
Hey Runner, that sounds perfect, just the era I would like to learn more about. I saw some talk around here about PdL. What is PdL??
Paul, thanks for the tip, I did eventually find his site a few weeks ago and was glad to see the more reasonable prices. Also, thanks for all the very helpful reviews on Amazon which have helped me find good resources for learning and listening.
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