Thread: What is Duende?
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Unread 04-26-2005, 05:31 AM
Roger Slater Roger Slater is offline
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If you have to ask, you'll never understand.

At least that's what Satchmo said when asked what jazz is. What you've quoted above is enough to give you an idea what duende is.

Duende means when the poetry or song is really, really good and you are blown away by how good it is. When you feel such a chill that you can't be warmed, or when the top of your head feels like it's been removed...to mangle the Dickinson quote...is to be in the presence of duende. Add a little flamenco passion, perhaps, and a visceral sense of genuine engagement with the nitty gritty of life and death.

OK, I don't know what duende is. Sorry about that. But Lorca's essay on the subject is wonderful, however much it might leave you uncertain what duende really is.


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