401  Carel Kraayenhof

Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2002 12:05:26 +0100
From: Chris Luethen <christian.luethen@GMX.NET>
Subject: Carel Kraayenhof

Dear List.

As you know Tango is very popular in the Netherlands and you can
even study argentine Tango music at the Rotterdam
Conservatorium (studies inaugurated by Pugliese, as far as I know).

This also has lead to many tango musicians in this country and
especially to a well know formation called 'Sextetto Canyengue'
under leadership of bandoneonist 'Carel Kraayenhof'.


Now I find several comments about this formation/orchestra in the
dutch press. I'd like to have your comment about them, from an
argentinian and a worldwide view. Here's what the press writes:

1. They do not only call Carel Kraayenhof a bandoneon player but
give him the title 'bandoneonvirtuoos'. Would you think that this
high title is justified?

2. They call Carel Kraayenhof 'the dutch fusion between Pugliese
and Piazolla'. Would you consider this to be justified?

3. They write, that Carel Kraayenhof is 'so well known/famous in
Argentina' ('... that he's chosen to please the *royal wedding* with
his music'). How well known/famous is 'he' in Argentina? And how
about the rest of the world?

4. Would you consider 'Sextetto Canyengue's' music as very good
to dance on, or more as music goog for listening, for concert?

5. Do Bandoneon players in Argentina - I mean the best of them -
very often extend the Bandoneon to it's full length while playing?
Would doing so very often be a more showyeffect or does the full
bandoneon extension has musical / playing reasons? If so, how
often do these reasons apply?

Very curious about your comments as I cannot figure these things
out myself (do they get it right, do I get it right, or - as most often -
is the truth somewhere in between). Thanks
Christian


P.S.: Perhaps you'd like to know that the actual CD of 'Sextetto
Canyengue' is called 'Tango Maxima' and came out about in the
period when the royal wedding was officially anounced.




* Royal wedding *
As many of you will know there'll be a royal wedding in Netherlands
on 2nd of february between the dutch crownprince Willem-
Alexander and the argentinian Maxima Zoriegata (hope my spelling
is right - sorry for mispelling in any case). Carel Kraayenhof will be
playing on that occasion in the 'Nieuwe Kerk' (=new church) in
Amsterdam - actually bringing the instrument back to it's roots as
Heinrich Band from Krefeld, Germany constructed it as a church
instrument [back-to-the-roots-anotation by me].

Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2002 14:23:31 -0700
From: Brian Dunn <brianpdunn@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: Carel Kraayenhof

...
Christian wrote:

>>>

4. Would you consider 'Sextetto Canyengue's' music as very good
to dance on, or more as music goog for listening, for concert?
<<<

During a trip to Berlin in June/July 2000, my partner and I attended a
concert/milonga presented by Sextetto Canyengue. I can't recall the venue,
but there was substantial theatrical seating as well as a moderate-sized
high-quality dance floor. We were invited to sit for the concert portion,
then dance to their live accompaniment after an intermission.

It remains one of the most memorable tango evenings in my life. The concert
music was passionate and captivating. But the DANCING - I had two of the
best dances of my life that night: that magical combination of music
striking in the heart like a flaming arrow, floor surface like caressing
silk, partner both telepathically responsive and fully present in tango
conversation, and a generally easily navigable crowd. The band and the
dancers were feeding from each other in a tango frenzy. Carel Kraayenhof
presided over the maelstrom like some kind of sorceror of the bandoneon.

The memory of the dancing is so strong that my memory of the concert playing
is somewhat eclipsed. But non-dancing companions that night, one of whom
represents classical musicians for a living, reported from the theatrical
seats that the music in both concert and milonga was uniformly excellent.

So my answer to your question is "Yes" ;)

Brian Dunn
Boulder, Colorado USA
www.danceoftheheart.com