Encuentro Videos Revisted (Full Version)

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Phil -> Encuentro Videos Revisted (Oct. 30 2003 21:12:56)

Hola everyone,

I recently received several Encuentro videos as a gift. Are there books available for each video? If so, are the transcriptions good?

I’ve only had a cursory look at the videos. I have Merengue de Cordoba, Moraito, Manolo Franco, Enrique del Melchor, Pepe Habichuela, and Tomatito. They are all good, simply because it’s an opportunity to see these guys play up close and personal. That, in and of itself, can be very inspiring (or frustrating).[&:] I’m really impressed with the Merengue de Cordoba video. It’s obvious that he’s a professional teacher. It starts out a little too basic, but then he goes into some very interesting stuff. For example, he plays a Tango with one very traditional falseta and one variation of a PdL falseta that sounds great and is deceptively simple to play. You can actually pick it up from the video, which is a good confidence builder.

The video is a terrific review of the basic compás structures and he does some wonderful things with chord progressions and voicings. He plays a Rumba, for example, using chords almost exclusively and noodling around with his little finger to create some melodies. He also does a nice Alegrias using mostly chords. This is a very practical and useful thing to learn, but it gets a bit complicated for me to pick up from the video and to see it in tablature would be very helpful.

The bottom line is if you’re in the market for an Encuentro video, you can’t go wrong with the Merengue de Cordoba one. I think it’s suitable for all levels. Even if you’re somewhat advanced, it never hurts to review the basics or see another way of doing something that you already know.

I had never heard of Merengue de Cordoba before. He’s probably one of those guys like El Carbonero that found his niche as a teacher and just plays within driving distance of where he lives. (It makes for a more stable lifestyle than the typical musician has). [:)] There are so many excellent Flamenco guitarists in Spain that most people have never heard of that it’s mind-boggling. Miguel de Maria can vouch for that, he met some of them when he was in Spain.

If anybody would like an opinion of one of the videos that I have before you go out and buy it, just let me know. However, please keep in mind that it would only be my opinion. [;)]

Phil



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Oct. 30 2003 21:53:49)

I would like you to review Pepe Habicheula. He's one of my favorites, but it'd be nice to have a idea if what he's teaching is worth watching.



TANúñez -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Oct. 30 2003 22:16:27)

The Merengue video is excellent. It's also probably the easiest one to follow for the beginner.

They're all good but my favorite is a tie between Tomatito and Moraito. To of my favorite guitarristas.

I love Jerez flamenco so I have to give the edge to Moraito!



Phil -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Oct. 30 2003 23:27:57)

El Z said,
quote:

They're all good but my favorite is a tie between Tomatito and Moraito.

I think the Merengue one is a must have for the basics, but I'd have to say that these are also my overall favorites. Of course, I really like both of those guitarists. Do you know if books with tab are available for these videos? Their idea of playing a falseta 'slowly' is not quite the same as mine. [:o]

Miguel said,
quote:

I would like you to review Pepe Habicheula.

I'll try to watch it within the next week. It's not so much a matter of me not having the time, but I only have 1 TV and 1 VCR and it's inevitable that my wife will want to watch something right when I decide to watch one of these videos.[&:] I really wish I had these on DVD so I could watch them on my computer.

Phil



TANúñez -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Oct. 31 2003 0:14:07)

None of the ones that I have gotten contained any literature. Which is bad because like you said, "Their idea of playing slowly is not quite the same as mine".

Still, very fun to watch.



Jon Boyes -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Oct. 31 2003 11:52:15)

A couple of observations:

Firstly, Phil knows some nice people (I wish someone would buy me 360 quid's worth of Encuentro videos![;)])

Secondly, I'm really suprised that they don't come with any music/tab[:o]. I had assumed for *that* price that they would. These are sounding more like entertainment products than tuition products (nothing wrong with that of course - as Phil says, it must be great to watch guys like this up close, its just that they are marketed as tuition products.)

I'd love to get some though. Probably have to dump some of the audio to hard disc and slow it down to learn anything, judging by what you guys are saying.


Jon



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Oct. 31 2003 16:29:44)

What do you mean, I learned some falsetas off your demo, Jon, and I didn't have to slow it down!



eslastra -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Oct. 31 2003 19:16:18)

quote:

ORIGINAL: El Zurdo

None of the ones that I have gotten contained any literature. Which is bad because like you said, "Their idea of playing slowly is not quite the same as mine".

Still, very fun to watch.


El Z

So are you guys saying that the Encuentro videos are no longer sold with books? Every one of the videos I've bought came with books. The Merengue video should come with 2 books. But it's been a few years since I last bought any, so maybe things have changed. Is it possible that some of the videos being sold are 'pirated'? Somebody should go back to the distributor and see what's up. Something's gotta be wrong if they're charging the same prices for the videos, minus the books. A lot of those falsetas would be very challenging to capture without the scores, IMHO.

PS: Haven't had a chance to put on the GATO strings. When it comes to changing strings, I'm probably the laziest in the world [X(] Maybe I'll have them on by New Year's [:D]



TANúñez -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Oct. 31 2003 21:29:32)

Hi Eddie. Really good to hear from you. I was starting to wonder what happened to you. I recently just started carrying these videos so I don't know if books were originally included.

I'm going to contact Encuentro and find out what the deal is. I originally received some as "samples" I guess to see if I wanted them and maybe books aren't included or these were previously viewed and are sent out that way.

I thought by now you would have already changed strings a thousand times like everyone else.

I too am very slow about changing them. I'll wait till there completely dead.



Phil -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Oct. 31 2003 22:17:49)

quote:

When it comes to changing strings, I'm probably the laziest in the world


You're supposed to change them?[:o]

Phil



Guest -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Oct. 31 2003 22:53:35)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil

quote:

When it comes to changing strings, I'm probably the laziest in the world


You're supposed to change them?[:o]

Phil
when I


LOL, only when my fingertips turn green after a few minutes of playing, that's usually how I know it's time to change them, unless they break before then. [&:]

I do change them before a performance, usually 1 to 2 weeks before. I dread the thought of breaking a string midway through a song. Luckily, this has only happened to me while accompnying dance class.

Eddie



Thomas Whiteley -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Nov. 1 2003 0:09:18)

Good to hear from you Eddie.

Remember Teye from the Flamenco World forum? I have not talked to him for a long time, but we talked off line several times. He told me he changed strings five times during each show.

http://www.teye.com/


I change strings not less than three days before a show – just to let them stabilize. Once I had changed strings a few days before a show and a string slipped off the bridge completely about one hour before the show. What a feeling or should I say what a sound?



One night at dance class Kenny Parker was playing his Santos and the top of a peg broke, right where the string passes through the hole. We saw that piece of Ebony fly all the way across the room. Kenny continued to play without missing a note. It was the 1st E string and was hanging from the bridge.

After all the dancers left (about 24 that night) one of the other guitarists found the top of the peg. I thought we would never find that piece of the peg as the dancers walked and danced all over that area where we found it. Luckily Kenny was able to have it repaired. That is the Santos that Gene Clark rebuilt and refinished. Very nice instrument by the way.

Speaking of Kenny, the best flamenco show I have seen is Kenny when he is seated, dancing flamenco steps, singing and playing guitar at the same time! It is a real riot!



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Nov. 1 2003 0:57:40)

My first flamenco performance was with my teacher at the time, about 15 dance students and the maestra, Lydia Torrea (an American who lives here that worked at one time in Spain). I was warming up with my new Vicente Carillo blanca when another guitarist, Kurt, who was playing before me, got ahold of it. "This is awesome, man! This is an awesome guitar! The action's so low and the tone is killer, and the golpes are ripping off the soundboard! Can I play it for my song?" He was accompanying a young dancer doing her debut. I reluctantly acquiesced, although it would certainly complicate things: as he was leaving the stage he would have to give me the guitar and I would have to hope it was in tune.

He did his piece, playing with his usual ferocity. I watched as they did their thing, a tangos with tarantas chords. She was shaking her butt, then she did a desplante--another--another! Kurt missed it! Kurt, who is usually so solid, had missed it. Then I looked and to my horror saw a string hanging wildy off the bridge, the e string.

Kurt finished off and as my group arrived and his left, he handed it to me, shrugging "I'm sorry, dude!" Another guitarist met me onstage, gave me his guitar, cold, unfamiliar, flat-feeling, out of tune. We tuned up, it seemed to take forever, the dancers were getting anxious...

And then we played! Lydia told me never to lend my guitar to anyone else, under any conditions. "That just isn't done!"



Guest -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Nov. 1 2003 6:18:11)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria

What do you mean, I learned some falsetas off your demo, Jon, and I didn't have to slow it down!


You are having me on, Miguel![:D]

My Solea falsettas are not in the same universe as falsettas by those guys. IIRC, most of them are derived from Paco Pena or tweaked versions of Juan Martin. Pretty basic stuff.

Liked your Solea material by the way, great to see (hear) you recording.

Cheers

Jon



Phil -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Nov. 5 2003 0:39:26)

Miguel said,
quote:

I would like you to review Pepe Habicheula. He's one of my favorites, but it'd be nice to have a idea if what he's teaching is worth watching.

I got around to watching the Pepe Habichuela video today. If you are a Pepe Habichuela fan, then get the video if nothing else than for the opportunity to see a guitarist that you admire play up close. He play's a Solea, Alegrias, Fandango de Huelva, Bulerias, Rumba, Taranta, Solea por Bulerias, and a Tango. All, except for the Tangos, from one of the two solo CD's he recorded. He only plays a couple of the falsetas from each piece 'slowly' after each is played at normal speed. Again, like Tomatito and Moraito, his idea of playing 'slow' is not quite the same as mine. [&:] You would definitely need a tab book to really learn anything (I know I'm projecting here, but I least I would), but I understand that there ARE books available for these videos. If I ever make it up to Sevilla I'll stop by 'Casa Damas' and check. BTW, Miguel, while you were in Sevilla did you ever go to Casa Damas? It's a shop that specializes in Flamenco records and books. I haven't been there in years, but I think it's still there.

Phil

P.S. The title of this thread was supposed to "Encuentro Videos REVISITED.' I just noticed the error.[:o]



Escribano -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Nov. 5 2003 18:13:46)

quote:

If you are a Pepe Habichuela fan, then get the video

I am and I will, thanks!



Guest -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Nov. 14 2003 0:07:47)

Phil

Do not underestimate Merengue: he was the teacher of Paco Serrano and Vicente Amigo. He has already had a successful career as accompanist and is more or less retired in Cordoba, where he has a flamenco tablao. Be wary of his cante accompaniment video.

Sean



Phil -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Nov. 14 2003 1:00:28)

Sean said,
quote:

Do not underestimate Merengue: he was the teacher of Paco Serrano and Vicente Amigo.

Sean, in the first post of this thread I said I was impressed with the video and his playing and that I highly recommended it.
quote:

Be wary of his cante accompaniment video.

Could you elaborate on that a little. I don't have that video, but someone told me that he covers too much material in too short a time for it to be of any real practical value.
Phil



Miguel de Maria -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Nov. 15 2003 18:41:27)

Phil,
thanks for checking out the video for me. Once I get some cash, I'll have to spring for it. Right now I'm "reduced" to learning from CD's! As for Casas Damas, I don't know if I was there or not... I got most of my stuff from Compas Sur on Rosario de... man I'm forgetting all the street names now.



Guest -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Nov. 15 2003 20:59:00)

Hola Phil

I am not convinced that all the cantes are sung particularly well or even correctly. For example, in the "Romeras" example a Mirabras melody is sung in the second half, requiring an accompaniment of C to B7. This change does not exist in Romeras.

It would have been nice to have had standard letras, sung in a standard way.

When are you going to make it across the Bahia to try my Gerundino? Today would have been an exciting crossing with those waves!

Suerte

Sean



Phil -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Nov. 15 2003 23:39:00)

Sean said,
quote:

When are you going to make it across the Bahia to try my Gerundino?

I wouldn't know what to do with a Gerundino in my hands.[:o] I'll make it over one of these days. Do you work in Rafael Lopez's shop or have your own? I'd really love to see a luthier's shop.
Phil



Phil -> RE: Encuentro Videos Revisted (Nov. 27 2003 20:23:06)

I found out today that the Encuentro Videos definitely come with a book. I stopped at a little store in Jerez today and saw them with my own eyes. The store owner told me that they are only sold as sets. In other words, he wouldn't sell me just the book. So, if anyone buys an Encuentro video, make sure you get the book that is supposed to go with it. Here in Spain the set sells for 85 euros. For those of you like me, who have some videos but no books, I'm going to continue checking to see if someone will sell the books separately.

Phil



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