3506  Tanguillo Andaluz

Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 03:51:02 +0000
From: Sergio Vandekier <sergiovandekier990@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Tanguillo Andaluz

I also wish to thank Bruno for bringing to our attention historical subjects
that we have not treated in depth in the past, such as the Andalusian
influence in the gestation of A. Tango.

Spain has an enormous wealth of traditional dances and music that vary from
region to region.

Flamenco comes from Andalucia, the south of the country.

It has three main attributes:" Cante, baile and guitarra" (singing, dancing
and guitar). It originated in the Gypsies songs and dances. It probably has
roots in India (place from where gypsies came from), the arabs that ruled
that region for 800 years and several other influences.

Its lyrics are rich and passionate references to tragedy, love and deep
emotions.

Pounding rhythmically on the floor with the feet (zapateo) and movements of
the body and hands characterize the dance.

Originally was just vocal with hands clapping, the guitar was added later
on .
It is danced apart, in free style, improvising, making an interpretation of
the music and the lyrical components.

Tanguillo Andaluz is a variation of flamenco that originated by the end of
the 19th and disappeared during the first part of the 20th century. Flamenco
has two main forms Cante grande or Hondo and Cante chico, there are many
forms in between, the tango and tanguillo fall in this third group.

It arrived to the Rio de la Plata during those years, when Argentine Tango
was in gestation.
It came with musical shows that toured Argentina and other countries.

Its melodies and lyrics had and influence in the gestation of the Milonga
and A.Tango.
The Habanera, also originally from Spain, contributed with its rhythm and
Candombe influenced the dance.

It is important to remember that the word "Tango" was used in Spain and also
in America in reference to places where blacks danced or to certain dances
that had nothing to do with Argentine Tango.

Candombe, Tanguillo Andaluz, Habanera three of the four roots of tango were
totally different from the end product : "The Argentine tango". The milonga
on the other hand was more closely related to it.

The Argentine Tango was then a cultural expression of the people of the Rio
de la Plata
(Buenos Aires and Montevideo). The same as Fado was a product of Portugal
and Rambetica a Greek manifestation. All those dances and musical forms
originated at the same time as expression of people displaced and saddened
by circumstances beyond their control, people that adapted by creating not
only music and dance but also a language, an argot or lunfardo and lived in
the periphery of social life and the law. It is interesting to notice as
well that the middle and high classes of those countries all originally
despised their music and dance, to finally adjust, cultivate it and embrace
it.

Buenas noches, Sergio.