Just a quick note: It should be rememmbered that Flamenco is the music of the Gypsy/Romani people who emigrated from Northern India around the year 1000 AD and were first documented in Spain in the 15th century.
There are some interesting parallels between Flamenco and Indian raga music: much of music they each begins a "tal (rhythmic pattern) and color (melodic/harmonic patterns- for lack of a better word) " which are then improvised upon. Each usually begins very slowly and then increases in intensity (there are certainly exceptions, specifically those in the modern pop flamenco tradition). It is also important to point out the manner in which the music is taught, using an oral tradition in which patterns of beats and melodic and harmonic progressions are memorized. and then used as a basis for improvisation. It is also interesting to note the parallels with the Spanish tradition of "danza y diferencias" and the music of Flamenco and Indian ragas. In particular, in the bailes (not the stylized dances in the suites) of Santiago de Murcia. In these dances Murcia begins in manner that is very similar to the way in which a flamenco piece evolves: by using a set of strummed chords (often with out barlines) which establishes the "tal & color" and then following this with a series of "diferencias" or varitions. These diferencias often slowly and then progress in a manner that is similar to a raga or a flamenco piece. Something to think about... R Savino To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
