AUTHOR: Manuel Ramos
PUBLISHER: Colibrí Ediciones
GENRE: Literature - Novel
READER’S NAME: Jenny Lockington
DATE: August 16th, 2023
'La Séptima Cuerda' [The Seventh String] is an engaging, well-crafted story about the art of Flamenco. Set in Seville, Spain, where Flamenco is the throbbing heart of cultural identity, the story evolves through the protagonist Daniel’s discovery and growing mastery of that complex artform and educates the reader along the way.
As a young child, Daniel is captivated by a street guitarist, whose performance initiates Daniel’s quest to interpret Flamenco music himself. His parents don’t understand his obsession and steer him toward more practical pursuits, but they give him an old family guitar and musical studies that support his ambition. He practices non-stop, listening to great masters at every opportunity. His techniques improve as he matures, leaves school, and dedicates himself full-time to his music, gaining recognition among performers. Still, he senses something missing for full command of the music. He contacts a true master, retired icon Niño Luis, to mentor him.
The man poses a seemingly simple question: “How many strings does a Flamenco guitar have?” Daniel answers the obvious, “Six.” The man turns away and won’t respond to him further, but Daniel plays his guitar daily in front of his idol’s house. He falls in love with the granddaughter of Niño Luis, Lucía, whose understanding and support connect his family and his music. Finally, Daniel´s ability and persistence convince the maestro to mentor him; Daniel humbly pursues intensive learning under his tutelage.
The lessons culminate in a prestigious secret competition with the most respected Flamenco performers and judges. Nervous and uncertain, Daniel enters the hall
“where generations of artists have written Flamenco history.” His mentor advises him, “Use your guitar and voice to make them tremble, whether from euphoria or grief, their greatest moment or their saddest loss …. Play to reach the soul of the listeners. Forget glory, money, your ego. Just…feel the music.”
Having advanced to the finals, Daniel is told his father is in grave condition at the hospital. Niño Luis reminds him to be at the competition by 10 a.m. the next day or not be allowed to continue. Daniel rushes to the hospital, where his mother and Lucia wait with his unconscious father, connected to machines. As hours pass, Daniel remembers his father’s loving sacrifices for his musical pursuits; with daybreak, his father passes away. Daniel goes outside to cry, where Lucia and his mother join him. Lucia told his mother of the contest; she knows his father would want him to compete. They convince him, and Lucia says, “Go play your soul for them.”
Daniel borrows his maestro´s storied guitar and begins to play, but a string breaks. He begins again with only five strings, “to finish not just what started the day before, but the destiny set in motion years earlier by a street guitarist.” He concentrates his love and sorrow in an intense, beautiful song he wrote for Lucia, masterfully played, and the other competitors and judges erupt in applause. The Seventh String—deep human emotion—carries the performance.
Flamenco lyrics and drawings evoking movement and intensity introduce each prose chapter. The idea of pursuing a dream is universal, but the power of Flamenco--its long history, intricacy of rhythms, emotional styles, types of songs and dances, costumes, influences, and legendary performers--is unique. Because of the many references to those specific aspects and Flamenco’s physical prominence particularly in Spain’s Andalusia, I regret that the book probably would NOT translate readily or travel well in the U.S. The story line is well-organized, the dialogue realistically advances the story, the author has researched the topic carefully, and his love for Flamenco is undeniable in his beautiful, insightful narration: (“[They] played to liberate the people from the yoke of the mundane, hypocrisy, and daily routine, distancing them from vulgarity and lifting their spirit through a music that transmits pain, happiness, and human emotion.”). Nonetheless, widespread interest from U.S. readers only distantly aware of Flamenco seems unlikely.
Manuel Ramos has published books, articles, and stories, such as “Pequeñas historias anónimas” in Latin-American countries, and his novel “Tres cipreses” as a radionovela in Cuba. An acclaimed filmmaker, screenwriter, director, and producer, his short film “Duende,” another fictional history of Flamenco, has received international awards in prestigious academic, cinematic, and dance fields, including in the USA.
