3689  Cayengue/McKay

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 14:34:18 -0400
From: Keith Elshaw <keith@TOTANGO.NET>
Subject: Cayengue/McKay

Bruno mentions German MacKay and identifies him as a Panamanian.

However, in the CD "Historia Del Tango" booklet, the Argentine journalist
Jorge Montes wrote (the translation into English is tryingly awkward):

"... in 1865, the Canadian actor living in Buenos Aires, German McKay (sp
correct), whose Shakesperian formation kept him distant from the African
environment (in Bs As), parodied his gestures and language personifying the
"Negro Schicoba" in a funny way, when interpreting the song and dancing
known as "tango."

Although it was far from the compass that came forth as time went by, the
rhythm of the song tuned by McKay postponed (I wonder if he meant
"imitated"?) the old "Candombe", the official dance of the "darkies," the
"Negro Schicoba," written in duple time, showed in its Habanera compasses a
certain accent of that which would constitute the "tango" sound and musical
structure.

"As we have already stated, various kinds of "tango" were popular last
century: The "Andalusian Tango" (1855-1880), the "Cuban Tango" and other
varieties. The so-called "American Tangos" were interpreted by artists of
Spanish troupes who acted in the City and appeared on stage disguised as
"darkies" following McKay's interpretation. This fashion was also followed
by U.S.A actors' minstrelsy, shows where musical performers and comedians,
usually clacked in imitation of the Negroes, offered a program of Negro
melodies and impersonations. A few decades later, in 1927, Al Jolson ..."


I know it looks like this was published in 1938, not 1988. What mangling of
language and sensibilities.

But what about the "facts?" Are they such?

Being Canadian, I have of course always hoped that a Canadian had indeed
been there as part of the birth of the whole thing. ;-) (Well, everybody
else was ...)

Does anyone have have more information about good 'ol German (Herman?)
McKay, his nationality, his life?

k.e.

Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 15:23:38 -0600
From: Bruno Romero <romerob@TELUSPLANET.NET>
Subject: Re: Cayengue/McKay

>"Does anyone have have more information about good 'ol German (Herman?)

McKay, his nationality, his life?" <

More information about German Mac Kay:

* Vicente Gesualdo in his search for tangos in the mid 1800's found in
porteņo newspapers the information about German Mac Kay on his performance
of "El Negro Schicoba".

One newspaper article written by Rafael Barreda describes the performance's
premiere on May 24, 1867. Mac Kay's performance of "El Negro Schicoba"
followed a comedy production of "El cuarto de hora de una mujer" by Breton
de los Herreros. Rafael Barreda mentions Mac Kay was thin like a candle
stick.

In Roberto Selles' book "El Origen del Tango" appears a picture of a black
seller of brooms with the following text: "German Mac Kay (1842 - 1890), in
1867 impersonated the negro Schicoba a tango character composed by Jose
Maria Palazuelos and performed at the Victoria Theater in that year.


* Vicente Gesualdo "Historia de la musica argentina". Edicion Beta, Buenos
Aires, 1961. Primera edicion (t3(volume3) pages 876-877).

Regards,

Bruno