NUEVO FLAMENCO GUITAR: THE LIGHT AND SHADE OF PACO DE LUCÍA

44th Annual Conference of the Musicological Society of Australia.

Paper by Gerard Mapstone on the music of Paco de Lucía.

Flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía (1947-2014) was one of the greatest Spanish composers and performing artists of the past century. His artistry crossed film, studio and live performance arenas, bringing flamenco to all corners of the world. Paco’s music and technical mastery had the ability to express the deepest of human emotions, and especially the elements of flamenco dance, voice, and guitar, influencing entire generations of modern flamenco guitarists.

This study into the music of Paco de Lucía pinpoints his studio recording of Rio de la Miel from the album Luzia (1998). It signifies an extraordinary time for Paco, and culmination of his vision for solo flamenco guitar playing. This study will observe the various points of departure that define the genre of flamenco, and move into Paco’s way of re-telling his stylistic approaches to harmony and rhythm. From the areas of genre and style, this study will provide a window into the creative practices of Paco de Lucía, that hope to engage us to view flamenco as a creative expression that is both traditional, and forward-learning.

Key words: Flamenco, Guitar, Composition, Paco de Lucía.