| Paco
de Lucía - the controversial guitarist who sparked the
evolution of flamenco from a closed, tradition-bound Andalucían
folk art into vibrant modern music that has been embraced and
acclaimed around the world. Here is his dramatic story. |
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The
genius and personality of Paco
de Lucía |
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An
account of the enigmatic singer Camarón
de la Isla |
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The
modern history of the flamenco guitar. |
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The
philosophy of flamenco as expressed by its artists. |
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A
wealth of flamenco information for aficionados of all
levels. |
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| Excerpts from
Paco de Lucía: A New Tradition for the Flamenco
Guitar: |
"When I was about ten, I was taking in great quantities of Niño
Ricardo's music. He used to visit my father in Algeciras. Niño Ricardo was a maestro with one of the most reckless techniques to enrich the flamenco guitar. Finally, I ended up possessing his music, feeling the fury it contained. Before that, I studied for hours with my father, doing my first finger exercises under his approving eye. Inside, he was happy that my brother Ramón and I would make our living by embracing the guitar, and not just due to his love of music, but because in that way of life it would be less difficult for us than it was for
him." pg. 5
"I learned from Ricardo, like all of my generation. Ricardo was the beginning. Later, when I arrived in Madrid, I began to listen to Sabicas. Records of his began to arrive from
America...
"Until I discovered Sabicas, I thought Niño Ricardo was God, and to a certain extent I learned from his school and his style. But when I met Sabicas I realized there was more to the guitar. With Sabicas I discovered a clean sound that I had never heard, a speed that was equally unknown to me at that time, and a way of playing that was definitely different. From that time on, while I
didn't forget Ricardo, I was able to add Sabicas' way of playing to my apprenticeship and transform it to make it
mine." pg. 9
[On meeting Sabicas in America]
"He came to my hotel, got me out of bed, made me play for him, and said to me,
'Muy bien, very good Paquito, but...'
"I don't know if it was really to help me, or if there was a little arrogance involved because at that time I played only the music of Niño Ricardo. I
don't know exactly why he said to me what he did, but I do know that he influenced me a great deal. He told me that a guitarist should play his own music, that he
didn't have to copy anybody. From that time on I forgot everything I knew by
Ricardo." pg. 12 |
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