3264  Ocurrance of the number 4 in Tango and Candombe

Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2005 10:39:28 -0700
From: Bruno <romerob@TELUSPLANET.NET>
Subject: Ocurrance of the number 4 in Tango and Candombe

Incidence of the number 4 I found in Candombe and Tango.



a) "El Cuatro" (The Four) and the "Media Luna" (Half Moon) were the
names of dance figures past to posterity in a tango titled "Cuerpo de
Alambre" (A body as a wire), which was composed by Angel Villoldo (1898 -
1919). Villoldo in the lyrics of this tango describes his dance partner as a
morena (a black woman) with an excellent sense of rhythm.

b) Dos Cuatros (Two Fours) the figure 4 executed in two opposite
directions was called at the turn of the 20th century a "Media Luna". The
Media Luna is also described in the tango el "Patio de La Morocha".

c) Four are the number of beats, in a bar or measures (compass in
Spanish), which forms a musical phrase in tango music, and used to time the
duration of an average figure.

d) A Basic Step a.k.a. Milonguero Basic, before the 8 Count Basic was
created by Juan Carlos Copes, ends with a cross in the last and number 4
beat, measure, or compass.

e) A candombe dance called "Charanda" is danced by a couple or mixed
trios, or in an impair number of people in row formation with an embraced
hold by the waist executing 4 steps in a mirror step (espejito), also called
the ombligada, which is still performed in Empedrado, Province of
Corrientes, Argentina every January 6th to celebrate the day of the Magi and
to San Baltazar, the lead of the Magi. The number four is interpreted by
blacks in their music and religion representing the four winds (N,S,W,E),
the cardinal points, etc. The number Four when repeated as come and go
walking steps forms the shapes of Ochos (Eights). Ochos appear to represent
a continuum in time as believed by blacks and other non-white cultures.



Best regards,



Bruno

Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 10:33:38 +0900
From: astrid <astrid@RUBY.PLALA.OR.JP>
Subject: Re: Ocurrance of the number 4 in Tango and Candombe

a) "El Cuatro" (The Four) and the "Media Luna" (Half Moon) were the
names of dance figures past to posterity in a tango titled "Cuerpo de
Alambre" (A body as a wire), which was composed by Angel Villoldo (1898 -
1919). Villoldo in the lyrics of this tango describes his dance partner as a
morena (a black woman) with an excellent sense of rhythm.

Yes, it seems, those steps are still taught some times by teachers who
learned some canyengue, milonga, candombe. El Cuatro looks similar like a
boleo forward, I believe,but with the knees slightly open, so that the legs
form the shape of the number four.
Media luna is a half turn. You start a giro, but go right back. The feet
face the opposite way from the ocho cortado when you finish.

When I asked other Argentine teachers about those steps, they
exclaimed:"Cuatro? That step does not exist." "What, media luna? Nonsense,
who told you that?"

Astrid