630  Good dance music

Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2002 19:50:15 -0700
From: Mark Celaya <mark@CLASSICTANGO.COM>
Subject: Good dance music

Greetings List,

I was very happy to read with much interest the recent threads regarding
tango music, including vals & milonga, which I would like to see more of.
Much can be gained by everyone`s input. IMHO, the music is virtually
everything, the most important part of the dance, not just in tango but in
any dance, as it not only inspires us to walk onto the dance floor with a
partner but also dictates how we are to actually dance.

As we all have our preferences as to which orquestas, styles, traditional or
contemporary music that we enjoy dancing to, as well as we DJs struggling to
inspire our dance crowds, I invite all to recommend their favorite music, or
even CDs and individual track titles that he/she feels are enjoyable to
dance to along with any comments that one may care to add.

I have chosen to write about one of my favorite tango orchestras, not only
as a dancer enjoying its music, but also as a DJ playing tangos, milongas, &
valses that are popular with dance crowds:

EDGARDO DONATO Y SUS MUCHACHOS

Two excellent CDs from the EL BANDONEON label (EB-88 & EB-95) are by the
brilliant violinist, director, & composer, Edgardo Donato and his group of
musicians called simply "Sus Muchachos" which included his two brothers,
Osvaldo (piano) and Ascanio (bass). They created a style in the classic
tradional sense mixed with the syncopations that were soon to follow in the
D`Arienzo mold. Among his many compositions, Donato`s most well-known are
"Julian", "El Huracan", "T.B.C.", and his famous classic "A Media Luz". His
credits also include the musical score for the 1934 movie "Riachuelo" as
well.

Edgardo Felipe Valerio Donato was born on April 14, 1897 in Belgrano Street,
in the San Cristobal section of Buenos Aires. He was first musically
influenced by his father, a cello player, and as a young boy studied music
at the Franz Liszt conservatory in Montevideo, Uruguay. In 1918 he joined
the Orquesta Tipica of Jose Quevedo where he had the chance to perform
alongside the great pianist and composer Enrique Delfino. Later, after a 3
year stint with the Carlos Warren jazz-band, Donato joined the orquestra
directed by pianist Luis Casanova, where he performed alongside violinist
Roberto Zerillo with whom he eventually formed his first tango band:
Orquesta Donato-Zerrillo in 1927. Also prior to this, Donato had engaged in
brief collaborations with the orchestras of Adolfo Carabelli & the well
re-nowned Julio De Caro. Finally, after Zerrillo had left the band in 1931,
Donato continued as Edgardo Donato y sus Muchachos which recorded numerous
tangos between the years 1932-1942 and also appeared in Argentina`s first
"talking" motion picture, "Tango". In one of the scenes from this now famous
classic, Donato is seen directing his orchestra at a local milonga for the
dance couples on the floor and then performing the music for a tango
exhibition by the very famous dancer "El Cachafaz" & his partner.

EBCD-88: Edgardo Donato y sus Muchachos 1932-1939
1. El Huracan
2. Santa Milonguita
3. El Acomodo
4. La Caida de la Estanteria
5. Ruego
6. Tierrita
7. Rosa Poneme una Ventosa
8. El Dia que me Quieras (Cancion)
9. Madame Ivonne
10. La Cumparsita
11. Chique
12. La Tablada
13. Se Va la Vida
14. Hacete Cartel
15. Papas Calientes (Tango milonga)
16. Sacale Punta (Milonga tangueada)
17. El Adios
18. El Chamuyo
19. Carnaval de mi Barrio
20. Pasion Criolla
VOCALS: F. Gutierrez (1 & 2), H. Del Carril (4 & 7), A. Maida y "Randona"
(5), J. Alessio (8), A. Gomez (9), H. Lagos (13, 14, 16, & 17), L. Morales &
H. Lagos (19).
EXCELLENT FOR DANCING: Track numbers 1, 3, 6, 7, 12, 13, 18, 19.
PERSONAL FAVORITES: 1, 3, 13.


EBCD-95: "A Media Luz" 1935-1942
1. Elegante Papirusa
2. El Vals de los Recuerdos (Vals)
3. Muchacho de Cafetin
4. Me Voy a Baraja
5. Ella es Asi (Milonga)
6. Alas Rotas
7. Chapaleando Barro
8. Sombra Gaucha
9. Mi Serenata
10. Campo Afuera (Milonga)
11. Sinfonia de Arrabal
12. La Melodia del Corazon
13. Estrellita Mia (Vals)
14. Yo Te Amo
15. Fue Mi Salvacion
16. Amando en Silencio
17. A Oscuras
18. Un Libro
19. A Media Luz
20. Repique Del Corazon
VOCALS: H. Del Carril (2 & 3), H. Lagos (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16,
17, 19 & 20), L. Morales (7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 20), R. Gavio (12, 16,
18).
EXCELLENT FOR DANCING: Track numbers 1, 2 (Vals), 4, 5 (Milonga), 9, 10
(Milonga), 11, 13 (Vals), 14, 16, 20.
PERSONAL FAVORITES: 1, 2, 11, 13.

Once again, I welcome comments as well as recommendations from anyone who
cares to offer his/her input.

Best always,
Mark Celaya
www.classictango.com