Conjuring

History

Before being called conjuring and being elaborate, the practice was called retraction , but was also limited to well few things. The name of retraction comes from Arabic retracts which indicates a small cork ball to which one gave later the name of Muscade, because of its resemblance to this fruit. In the principle, the retraction applied only to the goblet S

The magic practices would go back to the Préhistoire. Although the specialists are not all of agreement on their significance, rupestral engravings mythical wizards and animals seem well to attest some. The Old Testament describes the “combat” which delivered Moïse and Aaron against the magicians of Pharaon. “Aaron threw in front of Pharaon his stick which was transformed into snake. Pharaon has his turn, convened the wise ones and the enchanters. And the magicians of Egypt, achieved to them-also by their magic spells the same wonder. They threw each one its stick which changed into snake, but the stick of Aaron absorbs those of the magicians”.

The first intact found magic objects are faked Greek cuts dating from. This vase comprises a siphon making it possible to empty it and to fill it on several occasions. Another vase preserved at the museum Allard Piierson Of Amsterdam dated from made it possible to pour two different liquids at will. The Greek and Roman writings report their interest for the “makers of prestige”.

Moreover higher Antiquity at our days art to handle the objects, like the use of the Puppet S, and to claim that this handling is the fruit of a supernatural phenomenon, exists.

Handling and conjuring

Before being a Entertainment, conjuring was used to materialize the divine one and is comparable with the black magic , while she affirmed white magic little by little to move away from the bûchers. Its practice benefitted the wizard a long time but also often led them to be continued by the Inquisition. It is besides with an aim of demystifying the processes employed by the escamoteurs and other makers of turns in order to prevent to them roughing-hew it, that Reginald Scott (1538-1599) published in 1584 has Discovery Witchcraft off.

Today still, it is sometimes used with not very avowable intentions, to mislead the quidam with a Jeu of money, to fanaticize members of Secte S or to establish its ascending on a person and to benefit from it.

The representation of the first chart of the play of Tarot of Marseilles is the juggler, which is the representation of the magician, ancestor of the escamotor become the conjurer .

She is generally practiced by artists within the framework of the world of the Spectacle. The magician involved himself to create the illusions which delude our directions: he reveals and to disappear various things, he defies gravity, transforms the matter, reads in the thoughts, sees in the future. With its easy ways and its skill, its address and its Boniment, a setting in theatrical scene , a subtle lighting or a musical bottom, the magician create a context thanks to which its faking - moreover sometimes extremely simple - becomes amazing at the point to create the illusion that a mystery has just occurred under our eyes.

Conjuring seems to have had its Masters in Italy. It is in any case from there that Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin writes to have identified the origin, with the arrival from Italy to Paris of makers which called their turns plays . It quotes the pioneers remained in memory: Jonas, Androletti, Antonio Carlotti, then one of the founders, Joseph Pinetti to which his main , the count Edmond de Grisy, known as Torrini, owed all, even if he were avenged some.

Branches of conjuring

At its time, Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin carried out a census of the branches of its discipline to which he predicted a good future…

feats of skills (hands and words)
experiments of simulated magic (tricks of retraction)
extraordinary effects of the spirit (Mentalisme)
magnetism simulated (second sight, clearness, Divination, extase, catalepsy)
medium (Spiritism, evocation of the spirits, s3eance tables, striking, speaking and écrivantes, cupboards and their mysteries
recreation (misunderstandings, subtleties or combinations)

Nowadays, magic, as a performing art, revêt several forms according to the place where it is practiced and of the type of deployed illusion.

spectacles of scene with various categories: Great illusion, handling, comic or burlesque magic, Escapologie, Mentalisme and arts known as “additional” such as the Ventriloquie, the Pickpocketisme, and the Ombromanie.

If the magic Theaters of the 19th century disappeared, the spectacles of magic are present today on television. In France: Magic attention, the largest cabaret of the world, Mandrakes d' Or. They found a ground favourable in the theaters of the casinos of Las Vegas, become “the world capital of the Magic”. The magic is also present in the revival of the spectacles of circus.

brought closer magic or micromagie or Closed-up which often calls upon the Cartomagie and which is often practiced while restoring, cabarets, private evenings.
the magic of street which has recourse to the same approaches that the brought closer magic, but requires a particular aptitude “to hang” the passer by.
the Magic of living room, intermediary enters it closed up and the magic of scene

Terms of conjuring

Some narrower terms to magic art and conjuring are below defined in the compliance with the rule of the secrecy which is of setting in this field.

Mystery

The mystery is the secret kept explanation of the operation or the series of master keys to which the tour.
La deontologic rule is carried out " secret" who is of setting in these fields is more and more often violated in particular in television programs and by the trade of the " merchants of trucs" who sell with each and everyone books and vidéos which reveal fakings, artifices and methods employed by the magicians. However, the best magicians permanently endeavor to develop new methods. So that even by knowing the methods " classiques" one remains bluffé.

Baron

A baron is a person allegedly forming part of the public, but in fact accessory to it, which this last can need for some turns.

Boniment

Boniment is a speech which accompanies the execution by the tour.
In its book " How one becomes sorcier" , Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin specifies the word Boniment which he regards as a technical term of his art: This word, drawn from the vocabulary of the former escamoteurs, does not have an equivalent in the French language. How, indeed, to express what one says by carrying out a turn? It is not a Discours, even less a Sermon, a Narration, a Description. Boniment is quite simply the Fable intended to give to each turn of retraction the appearance of the Vérité.

Climax

In a turn of magic, the climax indicates the strong moment particularly surprising which finishes the turn.
Sometimes the turn is built with two or three increasingly strong successive climaxes. The first being able to let believe that the turn is finished, contribute cause a drop in the attention of the spectator.

Closed-up

Closed-up (brought closer magic or micromagie) meaning " Large plan" in English, is a speciality of the conjuring which consists in occurring very close to the spectators. One often crosses magicians of closed-up at the time of the dinners society men and in certain restaurants. The artist then presents a number of magic close to approximately 5 minutes (with accessories like parts, charts, cords…) while passing from table with table (table hopping) or while going from groups in groups at the time of the cocktails (strolling magic)

Countings (cartomagie)

Counting relates to the particular manners to hope a small package of charts which allow various maskings, for example to dissimulate one or more charts, or to count of it a number different from the real number of the package. Countings often bear the name of the magician who invented them or makes known. For example:

Elmsley counting, due to Alexander Elmsley (British).
Jordan counting, due to Charles Jordan (American).
Hamman counting, due to Brother John Hamman (American).

Other countings bear more picturesque names. For example:

optical counting or " Flustration count" , due to Brother John Hamman above mentioned.
the " Rumba Count" , due to Jean Pierre Vallarino (French).

Débinage

The débinage is the action to reveal with a not-magician the secrecy of a tour.
Le débinage can be voluntary in violation of the deontologic rule of use in this involuntary field or by awkwardness by missing the execution by the turn.

Diversion of attention

Détournament of attention consists in dissimulating an action by simulating another action appearing natural with the eyes of the spectators. It is about one within the most powerful competences of the conjurer who directs the attention of the spectators thus where " there is nothing abnormal with voir" what enables him to achieve actions in secrecy and without the knowledge of the spectator (empalmage, catches, jump of cut, boxroom of object, etc. ).
For example, the magician will indicate an object on his line to operate an action on his left, will equalize a card deck to carry out a empalmage or will rectify the collar of his jacket to seize an accessory (before an appearance, by ex). In short, it rests on the cognitive Processus of the spectator who associates usually certain effects with certain causes and divert them with its advantage.

Fake

A fake is an object which was made up or painted to resemble another object. Contrary to the gimmick, the fake is visible of the spectator but its real nature remains to him unknown. In magic of scene, the dissimulation of the real nature of the object is often obtained by optical illusions.

Ornament

An ornament is an esthetic movement which is not essential to the execution of a turn, but makes it more pleasant for the spectator. For example to make turn a chart on a finger at the time to reveal its face. Indirectly, the ornament makes it possible to the conjurer to show his dexterity. An excess of ornaments can harm the quality of a turn while making the effect magic percussion.

Gimmick

A gimmick is a small accessory or faked object which allows the realization of a turn of conjuring. The existence even of the gimmick must remain been unaware of of the spectator.

Empalmage

The empalmage consists in dissimulating an object of small size (part, nutmeg, ticket folded etc.) in the palm of the hand. Several techniques are described:

the traditional empalmage: the object is maintained plated with the hollow of the palm of the hand by a voluntary contraction of the thénard.
the empalmage " with the italienne" : the object is maintained wedged between the base of the inch and the fold of skin of the interior of the hand.
the empalmage " with the doigts" : the object is maintained behind the first phalange of the fingers (generally the major one and the index).
the empalmage " Downs" : applies more specifically at piece-rates. The part is maintained between the inch and the index, the hand being slightly half-opened. The palm of the hand is turned towards the public, the part being hidden by the inch.,
D' other techniques less known are kept secret préstidigitateurs.
Pour not to be visible, the hand must keep a relaxation as natural as possible, which requires a certain drive.

Passes

A master key indicates, the method of handling employed to carry out a particular effect: Disappearance, Substitution, Appearance etc

Catch

The catch indicates the action to seize without the knowledge of the spectators of an object. Thanks to a Master key, this object then will appear or replace another object in an exchange.
La magic of the doves calls upon many catches to reveal those.

Deep

The deep one is an additional pocket dissimulated under the jacket or in the pants of the magician. It makes it possible to make disappear from the objects or to keep them dissimulated until the moment when the magician will seize himself some.

Routine

A routine indicates a sequence of master keys accompanied or not by boniment which constitutes what the layman calls a turn of magic .

Maidservant

The maidservant indicates a shelf or a pocket located behind the table or the pedestal table used by the conjurer. The maidservant is intended to receive objects of which he wants to seize himself or to get rid without the knowledge of the spectators.
Robert-Houdin mentions the use of the maidservant in her work the Secrecies of conjuring and the magic , republished by Omnibus in 2006.

Tarot (cartomagie)

The tarot is the back of a chart.

Behavior (cartomagie)

The behavior indicates a particular way to hold a card deck.
For example (nonexhaustive list) :

Tenue of gives: the play is held on the left palm of the hand horizontally, face in bottom, the inch being on the left long edge of the package the major one, the annular one and the auricular one being on the long flat rim. The index is along the small front edge.
Held in Biddle: the play is held out of grip with the hand on the top of the package, the inch being on the small lower edge of the package, the major one, the annular one and the auricular one being on the small opposite edge. The index rests on the tarot of the chart of the top of the package.
Held in bevel: neighbor of the behavior of gives, but the major one, the annular one and the auricular one press on the right-sided of the package to put it in bevel.
Held vertical: analog with the behavior of gives, but the wrist is slightly turned on the side so that the play takes a vertical orientation.

The rule of the secrecy

The secrecy and the respect of the other magicians are at the base of the ethics of the magicians.

The applicants with the French Association of the artists conjurers (AFAP) must lend the following solemn oath:

“I swear as a member of the AFAP to accurately observe the rules of this Association and to subject myself to all decisions taken by the Council of the Order.

not to reveal any secrecy nor to describe them in works or publications being able to be read by laymen.

nothing to say or describe of what I will see or hear with the meetings of the AFAP to less than one authorization express of the Council of the Order.

to be honest towards my fellow-members and to practice the art of Conjuring with conscience and honor. ”

Some famous magicians and conjurers

Born in first half of the 18th century

Nicolas-Philippe Ledru says Comus (1731 to 1807) French

Henri Descremps (1746-1826) French

Born in second half of the 18th century

Giuseppe Pinetti (1750-1800) Italian

Louis Count (1783-1859) French

Bartolomeo Bosco (1793-1863) Italian

Born in first half of the 19th century

Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin (1805-1871) French

Jules de Rovère (19th century) French

Joseph Calves (1837-1889) Hungarian

Buatier de Kolta (Joseph Buatier) (1847-1903) French

Félicien Trewey (1848-1920) French

Born in second half of the 19th century

Georges Méliès (1861-1938) French , in particular with its first film Retraction of a lady to the theater Robert Houdin

Bénévol (Voluntary Francesco) (1865-1939) Italian

Harry Houdini (Ehrich Weiss) (1874-1926) American of Hungarian origin

Dai Vernon (David Frederick Wingfield Verner) (1894-1992) Canadian

Born in first half of the 20th century

James Randi (Randall James Hamilton Zwinge) (1928 - >) Canadian

Alex Elmsley (1929-2006) English

Garcimore (Jose Garcia Moreno) (1940-2000) Spanish

Gerard Majax (Gerard Faier) (1943 - >) French

Dominique Duvivier (1950->) French

Christian Fechner (1944 - >) French (1st price in Great Illusions and Invention with FISM in Brussels in 1979)

Born in second half of the 20th century

David Copperfield (David Seth Kotkin) (1956 - >) American

Dani Lary (Herve Bitoun) (1958 - >) French

Lance Burton (1960 - >) American

Carlos Vaquera (1962 - >) Spanish

Criss Angel (mindfreak) (Christopher Sarantakos) (1967 - >) American

Sylvain Mirouf (1970->) French

Derren Brown (1971 - >) English

David Stone (1972->) French

Festivals

International federation of the magic companies (FISM) - every three years.
the Festival of the magic of the valley of the water of olle - France (Villard-Moved back), Allemont, Vaujany,… the every years in August -
the Dove of Gold with Antibes Juan Pines organized every year in March, with the participation of Magica association of Nice http://www.niceasso.net/magica/
the Festival of the magic of Monte Carlo - Monte Carlo Magic Stars http://www.mc-magic-stars.com/
the Festival of Diavol in Loyettes
the Festival " White magic on the Rose" city; in Toulouse organized by Magicus association every years at the end of May

Conjuring with the cinema

Films have as a central theme conjuring:

It ( The It ) of Neil Burger with Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti and Jessica Biel (2006)
Prestige ( The Prestige ) of Christopher Nolan with Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Michael Caine (2006)

Others use it to contribute to create a poetic environment:

the title role of Judex of Georges Franju, remake of the Serials of the same name of Louis Feuillade, is held by Channing Pollock, the first conjurer to have revealed doves directly in its hands, without using of accessories like a hat: one sees it carrying out this turn several times in film.

References

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