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.
RE: Starting on Rio De La Miel (in reply to Guest)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Shroomy726 By the way, have you ever tried using vaseline like he did?
Tiger Balm is a great alternative to vaseline - using this stuff is like putting oil on a bike chain before going for a ride, it just gets things gliding that little bit smoother. You don't need to use too much, a little goes a long way. Perhaps the greatest thing with Tiger Balm is you can sniff it before starting each piece too to get you into the whole easy breathing thing. Ahh, it's soooo goood. Just don't rub it in your eyes or anywhere else that's very sensitive!! Get the red one, don't bother with the white - that's for shandy drinkers.
RE: Starting on Rio De La Miel (in reply to Dudnote)
Thanks, Todd and David! I definitely am very self critical, but the amount of work I put into preparing this program was really huge. I had no warning signs during my practice, either. Nothing to tell me something will go wrong. But it is what it is.
So far I always tried to share my better videos, fearing the critique I would get for mistakes, imperfections and such. But this time is different. I guess, I should accept being human. Things can always go wrong, and do.
One thing bothers me in these videos consistently, and it's not the missed notes or memory slips (I knew I was going to get them the moment I started playing, it was just that kind of a day). No, what really bugs me is the tempo fluctuation, usually (but not always) tied with my thumb's skin getting caught half the time. I did not feel this on stage. I was too preoccupied with the problems that faced me during that performance, constantly overcoming, adjusting, solving. I should have concentrated more on the rhythm. That's what I normally do when I relax. But I was never relaxed in those two concerts.
RE: Starting on Rio De La Miel (in reply to Grisha)
I watched the solo concert and they were some great moments, I am going to watch it again, and probably again.
When I saw Paco perform live, which I did only once, it was magical. The first picado run after his warm up freetime preamble he flubbed utterly. Of the intended twenty or so notes I think I heard three or four and none of them was the target note. It was a great night and noone gave a sh1t.
I can't say you worked too hard because I have no experience of working that hard. Maybe you need to accept that you are pretty great already and have been so for a long time. And perhaps deal with your own (minimal) failings as compassionately as you do other peoples.
RE: Starting on Rio De La Miel (in reply to Grisha)
Grisha, I noticed the mistakes. However, as you said, they just serve as a reminder that we are human beings & therefore by definition imperfect. I listened to and watched the performance multiple times, and I enjoy it more & more every time. Keep in mind that Paco himself was the king of making mistakes on stage. I think his material is just so complex, that even a millisecond of lapse of concentration is enough to fluff a note, and with traveling & fatigue & nerves, we just cannot expect someone to be rock-solid mentally from start to finish with such a line-up of very hard pieces. Olé my friend & keep playing! I enjoyed your presence more than that of all other artists that performed on that same occasion during this event. Vamonosssssssss!
RE: Starting on Rio De La Miel (in reply to Dudnote)
Thanks, Ramzi! Yes, it's extremely difficult to perform these live, especially in this setting. I was just hoping to be able to control things more. I'll get another chance at my next concert.
Thanks jof! I will watch it after today's masterclass is done.
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: Starting on Rio De La Miel (in reply to Dudnote)
Hey Grisha, you know I think you're a great player!
Your comment about what you think about while playing is interesting to me. Is there something you focus on generally? Do you rely on the piece being in your hands and just sort of gently steer it in an emotional/aesthetic/technical sense? Is the information transferred to the brain like being able to read sheet music and you pay attention to it on that level? Is the piece retained in a modular way, or is it more like one complete flow?
RE: Starting on Rio De La Miel (in reply to Dudnote)
Grisha, the the 3 pieces (montino/rio de la miel and fuente) made me cry they were so beautiful. You are the only artist to perform Paco's pieces even close to his level. I thank you for giving me such happiness.
RE: Starting on Rio De La Miel (in reply to Dudnote)
Thank you, friends. I truly love this music. I always did. And now, with Paco's passing, I feel extremely nostalgic. I sense that the era of this kind of music is maybe coming to an end.
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