Hola,
Welcome to my page! You are at home here.
My name is Paul, I’m a guitarist.
I’ve been experiencing flamenco for over 10 years now.
When you get into it, it’s not just about adopting a technique, learning new rhythms, or studying a repertoire.
I would rather say that we must first learn to observe. In the logic of an oral tradition, your first tools will be your ears and your humility. When a cantaor sings a letra for you, a maestro teaches you a falseta or a dancer starts you have to be “pendient”, that is to say, to listen.
To practice the art of flamenco is to acquire a solid base that can leave room for all surprises. It’s the development of everyone’s instinct in the greatest discipline. It is an art that teaches us to be yourself while respecting the codes common to all aficionados.
For me, the guitar has always been synonymous with travel and cultural discoveries. I have no Spanish roots. I was born in Colombia, of French parents. My first guitar teacher is Bolivian. When after a concert they ask me “Are you Spanish?” I answer “From the heart”.
Today, even if the heart of Flamenco is still beating in Andalusia, this art is spreading all over the world. It’s a universal art. I was lucky to be able to live in Seville for a few years. I rubbed shoulders with Andalusians of course, but also Japanese, Swedes, Australians, Americans, Slovenes, Turks … All came to learn flamenco with the project of developing it in their country. In the age of the Internet and its billions of information accessible in one click, care must be taken to fully respect the authenticity of this culture while witnessing its constant evolution.
Flamenco fascinates, spreads, shares though videos and music recordings… And Andalusia is a stone’s throw from here, in 2 hours by plane.
When I said that I was going there 10 years ago, it could seem like a fanciful project. Today more and more aficionados from around the world make this trip, at regular or occasional frequencies, in order to know this art at its source. It is a very good thing.
To illustrate these words, I will never forget the words of my maestro from the fundina Cristina Hereen, Eduardo Rebollar. It was 2010, flamenco had just been consecrated “World Heritage”. Quite honestly, even if it did give flamenco more media exposure, it didn’t make a dramatic change for us. Our maestro came to tell us about this new title given to flamenco at the start of the class. This gave this: ”Este titulo de patrimonio de la Humanidad lo usan los politicos y los periodistas quien ni siquiera podrian distinguir una seguiriya de una solea. En Realidad El Patrimonio de la Humanidad sois vosotros quien vos pegais horas al dia a estudiar la guitarra y el acompaniamiento al cante ”. “This title of World Heritage is used by politicians and journalists who cannot even tell the difference between a solea and a seguirya. In reality the heritage of Humanity is you, who stick to studying for hours during the guitar and the accompaniment of the song ”.
It is our turn to disseminate this art with today’s means while respecting its essence. Flamenco is to translate emotions from everyday life like painting, poetry, theater. If you are affected, then you must initiate yourself!
Gypsies are very great artists. Flamenco art is obviously inseparable from them. But do you know what makes them very happy? It’s about sharing a flamenco moment with someone who really likes it and respects it, whatever their country of birth.