3022  Jose Libertella et. al

Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 04:11:14 -0500
From: Keith Elshaw <keith@TOTANGO.NET>
Subject: Jose Libertella et. al

There are so few left who link us to the great orchestras and times of the
best tango we love.

Sr. Libertella was born in Italy; died in France. But of course he made
great Argentine Tango with Maderna, Di Sarli, Sexteto Mayor - which made him
a link between the old greats and the heart of the tango revival we are a
part of (flowing from "Tango Argentino").

Until the passing of Julian Plaza 20 months ago, Sr. Libertella always sat
at 2nd or 3rd chair. He gave these places honor and distinction. But he
clearly was a bandoneonista a cut above.

It says a lot about the man that - although he is not "well-known" (?) - he
contributed much to the best tango music of the last 50 years.

He played with so much energy and passion. He will be remembered as a young
man with tango in his heart that spoke to us all. He gave so much.

(I've posted a lovely picture of him from 1956 in the Di Sarli Orquesta on
my web site - ToTANGO.net).

Time is rushing by so fast. We venerate the great musicians who created and
played our favourite music ... I hope they know this in their sunset days.

I'm thinking particularly of Maestro Emilio Balcarce who, at 86, is still
teaching and guiding young musicians and giving of his special knowledge; of
his contemporary Horacio Salgán who continues to show his genius. How they
do inspire.

Today would be another sad day with this passing but for the fact that we
have actually lived in the same times as these brilliant musicians. That is
something to cherish.

They'll never know what they've given us.

But (thankfully), of course they know ...

:-)


Keith