Flamenco references | ||
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"...Flamenco-sweep the air." Flamenco is a cultural philosophy that includes unique forms of music, dance and expression. The movement was born in Spain when displaced Gypsies arriving from India, and later Germany and continental Europe, began to experiment with cultural symbols and rituals apart from those of the Catholic Church. The origin of the philosophy is not precisely known, but it came into prominence in Spain during the 1960's. One Flamenco guitar book notes that Flamenco is "emotion, it's strength, it's dancing, it's passion." The Inquisitive Traveler adds that the origins
are not the only mysterious aspect of Flamenco: "Even
the origin of its name is elusive.
Some attribute it to the early 1500s and the Flemish courtiers during the reign
of Spain’s Charles V. Their bright clothing inspired the names given things
garish or conspicuous, such as flamingoes and flamenco. The "Flamenco-sweep" itself is a four-fingered technique used to play guitar in the Flamenco style. Flamenco dancing is a fluid form of movement that is best known for the way in which the dancer twirls and for the rhythmic and distinctive clapping (left hand held still at ear level while the four finger tips of the right hand slap the left palm) performed by those watching the dance. The dancers themselves are described in a way that may ring familiar for Hip fans: "The flamenco dancer performs with passion, fervor, even tortured expressions but always striving for grace and dignity." "Flamenco" Chuck Keyser wrote a well known academic expression of Flamenco philosophy. It is introspective and ponderous and carries similarities to the writing style and sentiments of Gord Downie: "My own view of Flamenco is that it is an artistic expression of the intense awareness of the existential human condition. It is an effort to come to terms with the concept that we are all 'strangers who are afraid, in a world we never made;' that there is probably no higher being and that even if he/she (or it) is irrelevant to the human condition in the final analysis. The truth in Flamenco is that life must be lived and death must be faced on an individual basis; that is the fundamental responsibility of each man to come to terms with their own alienation with courage, dignity and humour, and to support others in their efforts. It is an excruciatingly honest art form." ![]() "...Walk like a matador." Another well known aspect of Spanish culture are the matador's (bull fighters) and their "brave" encounters with dumb, terrified and helpless bulls. While the bull has four legs and horns, the "fearless" matador has only his clothes, that were designed with bull-vision-impairing patterns and colours, the distracting and disorienting roar of the crowd... oh, and a weapon. But hey, its old, so it must be right. After all, it's "traditional." The lovable butchers do have an interesting history though. Throughout the Spanish War of Reconquest, which lasted a scant eight hundred years, the Moors ("I'm sorry, the card says Moops") Christians and knights of the royal army decided that when they tired of killing each other, they'd begin killing ornery cows. Hence, the matadors were born. None better than this guy: ![]() "...And turn breezes into rivulets." A rivulet is a small drop or stream of liquid. In literature it could be used to describe "rivulets of tears ran down her face." Rivulets is also the name of a Minnesota based acoustic guitarist who is described in one review as: “often driven only by voice or quiet guitar, Rivulets is frighteningly gentle, yet genuinely powerful. Most often, the music suggests the isolation and odd beauty found at the center of an iced-over lake in the middle of winter.” "...Maybe I'll go to New York,I'll drag you there You said, "no one drags me anywhere" The self proclaimed capital of the world, New York City is certainly the most feared, fabled, fawned-over and fabulous place on earth. Just between us, but I do have it on good authority: if you can make it there, you may in fact be capable of making it anywhere. In the early 1980’s, the city was briefly occupied by an unarmed band of fluffy miscreants. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |