Petri Kumela & Joonas Widenius
Biography Petri Kumela & Joonas Widenius
Petri Kumela & Joonas Widenius
have together honed a distinct sound and approach to rhythm. Their instruments have, it is true, met before in the history of music, but few have so determinedly worked to establish a common sound, making their encounter not just a casual project but a real duo.
The instruments and their techniques differ, and there is no reason to hide this. The important thing in flamenco is above all a percussive sound and a pronounced rhythm, whereas classical guitar aims at a full-bodied, singing quality. This greatly affects the right-hand technique in particular. A flamenco guitar is also much lighter than a classical one, and the strings are closer to the fingerboard. The honour for developing the modern version of both goes to Antonio de Torres Jurado (1817–1892).
Whereas the classical guitarist in most cases works from the notes on the page, the flamenco guitarist plays by ear. The former must be familiar with styles and performing conventions, the latter commands the traditional genres (such as the bulerias, soleá, seguiriyas and taranta), their characters, rhythms and harmonies. But both must always internalize and reproduce the music as they feel.
