A Way of Life

This classic account of the flamenco way of life before it was corrupted by creeping commercialism is based on Donn Pohren's eight years running a flamenco centre at Moron in Andalusia, "the wildest years of my life which I barely survived". His experience of flamenco and its mainly Gypsy singers, dancers and guitarists provides a vivid picture of flamenco at a time when it was still entirely genuine and a part of everyday life. It is extensively illustrated with contemporary pictures of the Gypsy artists and includes a new epilogue in which the author sees the first faint signs of a reaction against the commercialism which destroyed the flamenco way of life as lived by the Gitano artists and the hope of a revival genuine flamenco. Originally published in Spain by the Society of Spanish Studies, 1979 A Way of Life, the third of D. E. Pohren’s flamenco trilogy, is the bittersweet account of the disappearing flamenco and Andalusian life styles. While the flamenco life style and Mr. Pohrens involvement in it constitute the principal themes, A Way of Life is by no means just another book about flamenco, of interest only to flamenco lovers. On the contrary, many aspects of _ Andalusia are forthrightly discussed and revealed in this poignant, critical and humorous account. We believe the book will be enjoyed by all, whether or not flamenco oriented, for the way of life was extremely colorful and multifaceted. So is A Way of Life. Donn Pohren is uniquely qualified to write this book. He has lived and observed Andalusian culture since 1953, and is the only non-Spaniard to have been awarded the title of ‘Flamencologist’ and to have been elected to the prestigious Cátedra de Flamencologia (Professorate of Flamenco Studies) of Jerez de la Frontera. His first two prize-winning books on flamenco are considered ‘bibles for afficionados’. But perhaps guitar maestro Andrés Segovia best summed up Mr. Pohren's principal flamenco qualification, when Sr. Segovia wrote in Issue 42 of the Guitar Review: “Mr. Pohren has lived, inside and outside of the juergas (flamenco sessions), the anxieties, the miseries, joys, and pains of this great flamenco...family”. This revised edition will introduce a new generation of flamenco enthusiasts to this classic work. Donn Pohren was born in Minneapolis and was still in his teens when he was introduced to flamenco by Spanish expatriates in Mexico in 1947. After service in the army as a draftee and graduating from Mexico City College (now the University of the Americas) he moved with his Spanish flamenco dancing wife, Luisa Maravilla, to San Francisco where they taught and performed flamenco dance and guitar and opened a tablao. Homesickness led to them setting up home in Spain in 1959. A way of life is based on his eight years running a flamenco centre at Moron in Andalusia, “the wildest years of my life which I barely survived”. Donn Pohren ran his flamenco centre in Moron from 1966 - 73 but when the flamenco life style disappeared he closed the centre and settled with his wife and daughter in Madrid.