407  Tango Music II

Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2002 19:18:35 -0800
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: Tango Music II

The essential element here is to get to know the music and then to dance to
it. Musicality, interpretation of the music, communication with one's
partner...improvisation.
How is this accomplished?

A beginner dancer that is familiar with Fox-Trot or Swing, knows that when
in need of music all that it takes is a visit to the store. His tendency
would be to do the same when in need of Argentine Tango music. Big mistake!
Big mistake I say because there are tangos that were written for listening
only, not for dancing. This happened fairly early in the history of tango
and became predominant after the mid fifties when people ceased to dance and
there was big demand for music for the pleasure of listening.
When it comes to vocalists there are two types of music, one in which the
singer is another instrument of the orchestra and those in which the whole
tango is written for the exhibition of the artist. The first type is usually
danceable the second is not.
Example of the first type is the CD by Carlos Di Sarli "El sen`or del tango"
Here the orchestra plays for a while alone, later the singer appears for a
short time and then the instrumental music continues to the end. It was
fairly common at some clubs for the dancers to stop dancing to listen to the
singer and then continue dancing in times of the live bands.( Singers here
are Roberto Rufino and Jorge Duran ).
The voice is like another instrument and does not interfere with dancing at
all.
There are other tangos sang by Carlos Gardel, Julio Sosa or Roberto
Goyeneche that were intended merely for listening and not for dancing.

So the trip to the store and a question about Argentine Tango music is most
likely going to yield music that is not danceable.
The beginner ignorant of this fact will try to dance to it with great
disappointment leading him to believe that it is better to dance to
non-tango music.

So the first step should be to obtain good danceable music.
Let's say Carlos Disarli y su orquesta tipica -Instrumental - (Tango
Argentino).
Next one should listen to this music as frequently as possible...at home, in
the car at the practicas, etc. Listen to it till you become very familiar,
try to learn the names of your favorites...Champagne Tango, Comm'il faut, El
amanecer, Organito de la tarde etc.
Now start to pay attention to the different instruments, try to listen to
each one of them, the piano, the violin, the bandoneon, the base. You will
notice that the instruments come to the first plane one by one and that they
talk to each other.
Then you will notice that each tango has four sections - a beginning, a mid
portion, a preparation for the ending and an ending.
When it comes to dance to it you have to know that it is written in 4/4
notation, the beat is fairly steady and slow. This makes this music easy to
dance to. You can use long steps like for Salon Style or short syncopated
ones such as for Milonguero.
The first element is to recognize the beat, here you need the help of
somebody who knows, he/she should walk with you to the beat. The walk should
use all the variations of tango *always to the beat. This is to say walk
regularly on every third beat or every second or on every beat, walk on
every third beat alternating with corridas (runs) of three rapid steps, or
with contrapaso (traspie), etc.
He/she will make sure you understand where the beat is and how to play with
it.
Now you can start dancing to the music, walks are very important, you should
master the tango walk in all its variations, then add some simple figures
such as ochos, medialuna (half moon), giros (turns).
Then you have to practice to learn how to move according to the mood of the
music, how to make interpretations of fast and slow, happy and sad moments.
But...this is another chapter...as well as partner communication.
The above is essential to be able to dance Argentine Tango, unless you learn
those elements you will move alienated from the music and will feel
frustrated.
Once you are confortable with Di Sarli you could try other orchestras,
following the same parameters.
Osvaldo Pugliese (From Argentina to the World).
Osvaldo Pugliese (Nostalgico) some titles good for walking La payanca,
Lorenzo, Inspiracion.
Decaro por Pugliese - Orgullo Criollo
Osvaldo Fresedo (Vida Mia y otros exitos) good for milonguero Cordobesita,
En la huella del dolor.
Juan D'Arienzo (Todo D'Arienzo de FM para Usted) good for milonguero. El
Flete.

With Vocalists
Carlos Di Sarli y su orquesta tipica (el bandoneon) Roberto Rufino - Jorge
Duran
Miguel Calo y su orquesta tipica - Canta Alberto Podesta. (el bandoneon).
Ricardo Tanturi con Alberto Castillo "Cuatro Compases"
Angel D'agostino y su orquesta tipica - Canta Angel Vargas
Juan D'Arienzo y su orquesta tipica 1935-1939 - Mostly instrumental - Cantan
Walter Cabral -
Enrique Carbel - Alberto Echague.

Other
To dance to some of this music with good feeling and interpretation could be
chllenging.

Rodolfo Biaggi y su orquesta Tipica - Campo Afuera
Alfredo De Angelis
Florindo Sassone y su orquesta - Bien Milonguero vol.1(Reliquias).
El Arranque
Color Tango




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