2915  On Biagi, the thin

Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 05:36:08 +0000
From: Oleh Kovalchuke <oleh_k@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: On Biagi, the thin

Tom wrote:
"In an earlier posting you downgraded Biagi, (did you describe him as thin?)
... In a noisy room with a poor sound system, Biagi can get lost."

Stephen Brown wrote: "Biagi also recorded some of the most compelling
valses", recommended a few tangos by Biagi for consideration and added: "El
Bandoneon did not do a particularly good job remastering Biagi's recordings.
Most tracks sound a a bit thin and muddy."

In case I wasn't clear enough, Biagi sounds too thin to me and his tangos
are not among my favorites. The only tango tanda by Biagi I can play is
this: Golgota - El 13 - Son cosas del bandoneon -Tus labios me diran. Three
of the tangos are in the Stephen's list. I wouldn't play this tanda too
often though because, yes, it sounds too thin. By the way Son cosas del
bandoneon is another example of duplicate in my playlist along with
Rodriguez's version.

On the other hand just like Ella Es Asi by Donato is one of the best
milongas ever, Lagrimas Y Sonrisas by Biagi is one of my favorite valses and
he does have a few more beautiful valses.

Cheers, Oleh K.
https://TangoSpring.com

>From: Tom Stermitz <stermitz@TANGO.ORG>
>Reply-To: Tom Stermitz <stermitz@TANGO.ORG>
>To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
>Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] Persistent Canaro - an observation
>Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 22:52:07 -0600
>

....

>
>This "lyrical" category is in contrast to the staccatto/rhythmic
>category of D'Arienzo, Rodriguez or Biagi. In an earlier posting you
>downgraded Biagi, (did you describe him as thin?) Biagi is special
>because he uses gaps in the rhythm as syncopations, something I've
>heard called "elevator shafts". There you are, dancing along, and
>suddently the ground drops out. In a noisy room with a poor sound
>system, Biagi can get lost.
>
>Tanturi bridges the rhythm of D'Arienzo into the syncopation/lyricism
>of the 1940s. I find Tanturi/Campos a little more lyrical compared with
>Tanturi/Castillo.
>
>Another category is spacious/walking, like Di Sarli and some Fresedo.
>
>Another category is syncopated, like a lot of the Troilo from the early
>40s, and his work with Fiorentino. Calo crosses over into this
>category.
>
>D'Agostino is also in his own category. Sort of like Tanturi, but more
>spacious?
>
>Finally, you have the really dramatic Pugliese, which deserves a two
>categories of his own, the 1940s - 50s material vs the super-dramatic
>60s-70s.
>
>
>These categories are how I think when choosing tandas. They allow me to
>make sharp contrasts from one tanda to the next. If you played all
>D'Arienzo/Biagi/Rodriguez, the ric-tic-tic would be all of the same
>cloth. Contrasting Calo to D'Arienzo, and each orchestra enhances the
>other one.
>
>This is why I like non-tango tangos from time to time. It creates a
>sharp contrast to the 1940s music. Play some habanero/world music so
>people can get romantic, then that D'Arienzo becomes really fresh
>again.
>
>
>
>
>On Oct 20, 2004, at 10:22 PM, Oleh Kovalchuke wrote:
>
>>Calo happens to be my favorite orchestra (the hummable orchestra of
>>golden
>>era). However somehow he has less songs in my playlist than Troilo or
>>Canaro. Those songs by Calo I do have are without doubt among the very
>>best:
>>Al Compas Del Corazon!, Lejos De Buenos Aires!, Jamas Retornarnaras!,
>>Corazon No Le Hagas Caso! How can one beat those?
>>
>>Cheers, Oleh K.
>>https://TangoSpring.com
>>
>
>Tom Stermitz
>https://www.tango.org
>

Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 10:27:34 -0600
From: Tom Stermitz <stermitz@TANGO.ORG>
Subject: Re: On Biagi, the thin

Non-thin Biagi besides "El 13":


Racing Club
Todo te Nombra
La Maleva
La Chacarera
El Recodo


But, as I said before, room noise or poor amplification can hide Biagi.
The reason for this is that Biagi syncopates by dropping out a beat,
which is harder for people to hear.



On Oct 20, 2004, at 11:36 PM, Oleh Kovalchuke wrote:

> Tom wrote:
> "In an earlier posting you downgraded Biagi, (did you describe him as
> thin?)
> ... In a noisy room with a poor sound system, Biagi can get lost."
> ...
> In case I wasn't clear enough, Biagi sounds too thin to me and his
> tangos
> are not among my favorites. The only tango tanda by Biagi I can play is
> this: Golgota - El 13 - Son cosas del bandoneon -Tus labios me diran.
> Three
> of the tangos are in the Stephen's list. I wouldn't play this tanda too
> often though because, yes, it sounds too thin. By the way Son cosas del
> bandoneon is another example of duplicate in my playlist along with
> Rodriguez's version.
> Cheers, Oleh K.
> https://TangoSpring.com

Tom Stermitz
https://www.tango.org