The Art of Flamenco

Flamenco is not just a music of southern Spain, as is generally believed. More than that, it is a way of life that influences the daily activities of the southern Spaniard. One does not have to be a performer of flamenco to be a flamenco: a flamenco is anyone who is emotionally and actively involved in this unique philosophy. For this reason, no book is complete in dealing with the art of flamenco alone, for the art of flamenco is merely the outward expression of the flamenco way of life. The reader must also be made to understand something of its creators and perpetuators, and their philosophies, attitudes, customs, beliefs, likes and dislikes. It is necessary to understand not only what flamenco is, but why it is what it is. With this objective in mind, I present the following experiences and essays as an introduction to a study of this fascinating but little understood art.