【藝團成員】個人介紹及有關Centro Flamenco分享 - 蔣昊霖 Vincent(中華之聲成員)
My name is Vincent. I’m 18. I remember when I was young, I often sat in the backseat of my father’s car, listened to the music of Flamenco guitar from cassette tapes, and I thought that it was the best music in the world. Since then, I turned on the music every morning, held a guitar with fake golpeadores painted on, and pretended that I was playing, until I got a chance to learn the piano.
School soon started, I was too busy to have spare time for music anymore. I took guitar lessons on and off and eventually got a grade 7 certificate in China. I went abroad for high school. My horizon was broadened and I realized that I was no one, comparing to the Renaissance people who composed and played their own music, while making their own instruments.
I was obsessed with the music by Johann Sebastian Bach, and I enjoyed playing his music on the guitar. I finished the grade 4 exam of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada, and I will continue working on the next level. However, the classical guitar didn’t always allow me to express what I felt. Instead, all I had to do was to follow the scores. I felt bored sometimes and I tried to play some Flamenco for pleasure.
∮Video – Falseta de Paco Peńa’s Soleares played by Vincent Jiang on 18th Dec.,2015
On stage talking, the man is a legend. He is persistent. As the only Asian man handpicked by Paco Peña to join his maestro lesson, Raymond Au is honoured to be the first instructor to preach the art of Flamenco in China. He is exquisite. He is the reason why I have a luthier dad, who introduced the guitar to me when I was 5, and changed my life forever.
I finally got a chance to take part in an activity hosted by Au. He and his students gave speech about their knowledge and realization of Flamenco. Au emphasized the importance of following the orthodox style of Flamenco Puro and analysed several players’ styles. He pointed out that the big mistake in nowadays’ world of Toques Flamenco is the tendency to show off the techniques without understanding the art itself. “The younger generation lost their enthusiasm in following the tradition and authenticity”, he said.
“You can play, but you don’t understand.” This was how Paco Peña often commented on his students, back in the 80’s. Unfortunately, not everyone seemed to know what he exactly meant. In fact, Flamenco is not as simple as a kind of music. It is a magnificent art form, with rough passion, and rich in philosophy. The Andalusian gypsies used to gather and express their happiness and sadness. They share food, sing, dance, plays the guitar and percussions. This is their way to get through hunger and homelessness, and it’s the origin of the art form.
Some people think that life isn’t flawless. Although there are happiness and sadness, human beings are able to express their emotions through art. I believe that the existence of art gives life a definition of flawlessness. And it reflects the essence of Flamenco.
Vincent
in Vancouver, BC
3rd Oct.,2016
