Flamenco Body and Soul

Flamenco, Body and Soul is an introduction to the enigmatic and fascinating world of flamenco. Each section of the book is easily understandable, as an introduction should be, and richly perceptive. Together the sections form a synthesis that illuminates the subject for all flamenco aficinados experts as well as neophytes. The book begins with the autobiography of Juan Serrano, whose concert career parallels the spread of flamenco from its origins in southern Spain to its worldwide acceptance as a significant art form. Then in historical perspective the book examines the birth of the 'cante' (song), relating its modes and changes to the socio-political developments in Spain. Performers, poets and critics who made a difference are similarly analyzed. And the three musical branches of flamenco - song, dance and guitar - are examined as interrelated parts of a single art form. The final section, a summing up, ties all these topics together to form a brilliant conclusion to this 'introduction'.