JBASHORUN -> RE: Flamenco and Respect? (Apr. 21 2006 17:01:30)
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Some folk have dipped their toes in it and used the little bits they have learned in their few weeks holiday in Andalucia and a few CDs to augment their own music, be it Blues or Jazz or something they created out of their own bedroom. The Internet is awash with "Flamenco influenced" stuff now.... A couple of weeks ago on a Radio Arts programme, I heard this girl who played steel string guitar (singer/songwriter) being introduced as "someone who encompasses every mode from 60's Folk Rock to Flamenco". I mean, I even see it on the Internet forums. Some guy says.. "I've been playing Flamenco six months...any of you guys come across Siguiriyas timing?. I've got a heap of great stuff I've composed for that stuff, but I think it might not fit right?... Any help appreciated." (Yeah...Let's Rock 'n Roll dude.... ) Unless you were born into Flamenco, its inevitable that you will be a newcomer at some stage. And its up to you how serious you want to take it. personally, I make an effort to understand each music and its background. But obviously my comprehension of Flamenco and Flamenco culture will probably never be equal to that of a true professional Flamenco guitarist like PDL. If I let that stop me, I would have never bothered to learn any Flamenco in the first place. My musical influences are very diverse, and it would be impossible for me to "live the life" of each of them. Furthermore, I REFUSE to choose between musical genres... each has something good to offer, and I reserve the right to play or practise whichever I feel like. And if the result is that my compositions sound like a mix of Flamenco, jazz, classical, rock, thrash, heavy metal, (and anything else) then so be it, as long as I don't claim its pure Flamenco. I would rather produce hybrid compositions such as this and do it well whilst putting my whole heart into it, then rigidly stick to pure Flamenco against my wishes, and fail miserably. That said, I do believe that if you claim to play real Flamenco, then that is what you should play, and you should know what you are talking about. But to be influenced by a genre is nothing. I read somewhere that Django Reinhardt was influenced Beethoven... but that doesn't make him a sell-out, or a "wannabe", or an abuser of the classical genre, does it? Good music comes in many forms, and sometimes you are a better musician when you are open to such ideas from other genres. personally, I'm just happy that people from many backgrounds are embracing and liking Flamenco. Just my opinion. Jb
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