Flamenco in silent films 1900-1929

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kitarist

Posts: 1715
Joined: Dec. 4 2012

Flamenco in silent films 1900-1929

Yesterday I came across this compilation of various silent shorts featuring flamenco dancing and adjacent, spanning 1894 to 1929 (the last two clips, from 1930, are with sound).

I've marked with yellow the silent ones that definitely look like flamenco baile. You have to see them with sound off as these are silent films.

To me the very first one from 1894, of the famous Carmencita(*) (Carmen Dauset 1868-1910) is not flamenco but some spanish folk / ballet mixture for a vaudeville act that she was famous for in New York (where the film was shot) since 1890.

Check out the tocaor's posture in the 1923 clip (from 06:17) - a mix of Paco de Lucia and old school but 95% of the way to Paco's famous posture:

Video:

(*) As mentioned here: http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=288786&mpage=1&key=carmencita&s=#289097

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Konstantin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2023 19:34:22

devilhand

Posts: 1598
Joined: Oct. 15 2019

RE: Flamenco in silent films 1900-1929 (in reply to kitarist)

quote:

Check out the tocaor's posture in the 1923 clip (from 06:17) - a mix of Paco de Lucia and old school but 95% of the way to Paco's famous posture :)

I wonder who it is. His right hand technique looks modern enough to accompany any flamenco baile of the present day.

Today baile can be accompanied by both flamenco guitar and e-guitar. Here from 30:00 onwards. Heavy strumming parts can be played on e-guitar. Sounds awesome to me. Reduces occupational hazards of flamenco guitarists during dance accompaniment. A win-win situation.

https://www.rtve.es/play/videos/caminos-del-flamenco/vuelvo-granada/6357384/

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Say No to Fuera de Compás!!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2023 22:02:53

Ricardo

Posts: 14797
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Flamenco in silent films 1900-1929 (in reply to kitarist)

1900, “El Mulato”, sings and jumps up to dance, that is bulerias but the video is slightly slowed down. Otherwise pretty clear. The next video where everybody is “free styling” looks weird, and abnormal. I would say they were told to dance on camera to whatever music was in their heads. Nobody is together and they are all laughing in a way like “this is ridiculous”. The next video, conversely to the 1900, is sped way up but is again bulerias.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2023 12:12:09