"Using" other artists' falsetas?

[jtucker]

Where is the line in using other peoples' falsetas? Obviously if you play something verbatim that's on someone's CD, you're playing their music. What about traditional falsetas or so-and-so's take on a traditional falseta? Where's the line between borrowing and playing a cover?

If I use several falsetas from different places while playing a gig or whatever, it seems silly to say, "That was a tune I put together using this guy's music and some of that guy's music, and some other stuff I don't really know where it comes from..." Right?

Just would love some opinions...

Jason

[Dave Tate]

The nature of traditional solo flamenco guitar is essentially to have a huge grab bag of falsetas to pick and choose from, whether they're your own, traditional, or someone specific's.

Every flamenco guitarist on earth shares falsetas, and I can't imagine anyone would mind you doing the same, unless perhaps you recorded it and sold a CD saying it was 100% yours.

Nowadays, there are a lot of flamenco "pieces", and if you plan to play the whole thing note-for-note, that's a different story.

That's my thoughts at least.

[jtucker]

Thanks, Dave.
I kinda had similar thoughts but I wanted to hear from those already in the performing community.

[deteresa]

I believe that in Flamenco you have to challenge yourself to use your creativity. If you hear a Falseta that you like, learn it, but then you have to somehow make it your own. Deep down, everyone has their own style and vision , otherwise you would not be interested creating art.
We may start out by copying artists that we admire, such as Paco de Lucia. But the way that he created his own personal Flamenco, while still being Flamenco, was to learn traditional falsetas, harmonies, etc. and then put his own spin on them (substituting a chord, applying different techniques, changing rhythm, what have you). This, in turn, inspired him to create his own material.
All this really only applies to if you are going to make a record, which should be your own personal statement. But if you're playing a gig, it's completely different because you're there to entertain an audience, and you need a lot of material. Playing more traditional, recognizable things is totally appropriate in that case, although it's not likely that anyone in this country will know what they heck you're playing anyhow:grin:

[Michelob]

Well written posts. If I may add, there is a further spin, a hybrid between the slavish rendition of another artist’s music and one’s own original composition. Classical musicians call it “cadenza”, an ornamental solo segment improvised or written by the performer to show-off virtuosity or simply add a personal touch to the chosen composition. Many important Cadenzas are preserved and now considered part of certain concertos (Boccherini cello concertos have it by a variety of musicians over centuries of performances).

With less formality, when proposing say work by Paco de Lucia or Vicente Amigo, one approach is to incorporate your own Cadenza, improvised or well thought and premeditated.

[Tony Hyman]

I suppose its the same for Rock Guitartists .One could learn Europa by Carlos Santana or Samba Pa Ti .When I used to do Rock Gigs before my ears went on the blink from all the years of "wailing" away on the strat ,I used to play the main theme but found it ,to be your own when one jammed away from the main theme ,and the spontanious riffs would differ from gig to gig.I suppose Carlos also just jammmed away when he recorded those pieces back then .At the moment on CG ,I find it not to be so easy espesially when learning Candenzas by Coste in his Le Source Du Lyson where he dose afford a lot of space to do your own thing in my oponion as well as Caprice Sonata Op 11,as far as pulling the tempo about ,but I think as time moves on it will just get better and I will be able to borrow some of those Candensas in my own original stuff .Same with Aquado and Giuliani and Sor.There is such a treasure chest of ideas just begging to be used I think ,no matter what style of guitar.

[Michelob]

....There is such a treasure chest of ideas just begging to be used I think ,no matter what style of guitar.


Absolutely true, Tony.