Juan Tamariz’s Flamenco by Stephen Minch

Flamenco is the long-awaited sequel to Juan Tamariz’s Sonata and Mnemonica, and the third volume in his Bewitched Music series. Filling its pages are central pieces of the Tamariz repertoire: tricks and routines that have been honed and perfected over decades. And within this cache from a master’s repertoire are taught invaluable lessons in psychology, showmanship and the structure of deception that can elevate the level of astonishment and impossibility in your magic to new heights.

Flamenco presents a variety of material that includes new effects with cards, coins, color-changing knives and interactive pieces for live and broadcast performances. Just as Paco de Lucia brought to flamenco superb innovation and bravura, Juan Tamariz brings these qualities to today’s magic, and presents them to the world of conjuring within the pages of Flamenco.

There is true virtuosity in the compositions explained in these pages – cunning orchestrations of effect, method, psychology and entertainment.

•White pocket knives change to colors called out by spectators.

•Freely chosen cards rise from a shuffled, freely handled deck while it is held at the fingertips, then while isolated in a clear bag, and finally while in the hand of an audience member.

•Multiple coins appear between cards although the magician’s hands are seen unquestionably empty. The coins then change color and size in a bewildering and surprising fashion.

•The performer’s act is brought to a conclusive end when the deck of cards suddenly disappears and is proved to be unquestionably gone.

•Centaurs and mermaids mingle and mate to a song of the sea that ends sweetly.

•A deck, shuffled thoroughly by members of the audience, magically sorts itself into colors, then suits—and finally the cards arrange themselves into numeric order.

These are just a selection of notes sampled from the magical flamenco of Juan Tamariz, played with the elegance, playfulness, artistry and grand mystery of a world master, for your use and enjoyment.