Flamenco for documentary. Advice needed

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Stu

Posts: 2522
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

Flamenco for documentary. Advice needed

Hi guys,
I've been asked by a film maker friend of mine to record some flamenco guitar for a film he's shot about dance and movement.

The film features some African dancing and movement and two scenes of a flamenco dancer ...well dancing/moving.

He had asked if I might record some guitar to go in the two scenes of the flamenco dancer. I said I would.

We discussed whether I would play the same piece of music that the dancer was dancing when she was filmed or whether it was more just music over the top as you might have with a montage piece etc.

I have watched the film directly without sound. The two scenes with the flamenco dancer are wonderful. Amazing movements. Mesmerising and technically superb.

They are definitely specific performances. No cuts. So one take of a performance. This means, as far as I can tell, that any kind of non specific montage music won't really cut it.

I tried to figure out what palo the dancer was performing but struggled..I think I expected to hear footwork, clicks, see a few clues from movements etc. (But no sound at all and in orthodox camera meant I wasn't so lucky)

I then watched the same scenes with sound.
And both tracks are not flamenco at all. They are kind of world music/guitar kind of pieces.

So she's using very flamenco dance techniques/moves to Bob flamenco music.

So I know find myself stuck. And the more I think about it the more I feel like anything I attempt to play and record may be disrespecting the dancer and her interpretation of the music she was dancing to at the time. Does this make sense??

I'm not a dancer but I imagine that performance is deeply linked to what the music was at the time. Anything I added would have a disconnect and feel soulless.

I can't tell if this is a valid concern/problem or whether it's my subconscious brain making problems that aren't there.(due to my own lack of confidence issues)😅

I basically have no idea what I can play/what will work.
I actually like the dancer. And I'm thinking maybe I could speak to her. I wouldn't want her to see the final film with my music on and get just go....what the hell!!!?? This makes no sense.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Stu

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 11 2019 11:01:33

Ricardo

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

RE: Flamenco for documentary. Advice... (in reply to Stu)

Rumba... it covers everything

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 11 2019 11:26:38

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: Flamenco for documentary. Advice... (in reply to Stu)

Or maybe go full Fellini and have the music completely disconnect from her movements. Not really joking here, trying to sync it up could be nearly impossible, if not very difficult, yet going slow when she goes fast or speeding up when she slows down might work. Zig when she zags.

Did the filmmaker not want to use the original music due to copyright reasons? It seems curious they wouldn’t just go with that.

Talking with the dancer can’t hurt. She may have some helpful ideas.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 11 2019 13:36:24

kitarist

Posts: 1715
Joined: Dec. 4 2012

RE: Flamenco for documentary. Advice... (in reply to Stu)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stu

I'm not a dancer but I imagine that performance is deeply linked to what the music was at the time. Anything I added would have a disconnect and feel soulless.

Or it could be the opposite - she used the music as a lose background layer on top of which she made flamenco style movements (it's been known to happen). Maybe you should talk to her to confirm.

Assuming you are now free to add your flamenco musical layer, it seem to matter if the dancing was compass free (meaning no steady pulse) or not.

Also, in contrast to RobF's point, my feel is that you might try to match the basics (though not the details - which is where I agree with him) - so if she is conveying urgency, play something that relays that; if she is slowly moving, play something sparser and slower.

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Konstantin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 11 2019 17:58:53