372  Roberto Firpo - Julio De Caro

Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 23:29:15 -0800
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: Roberto Firpo - Julio De Caro

Some clarification with respect to the following comment I just received.

>"Firpo, an evolutionist??? I can't imagine that classification of Firpo,

in
fact I would think just the opposite. Perhaps Julio De Caro would be a
better example of the early evolutionist, yes?"<.

Roberto Firpo (1884-1969) as director, composer and interpreter was one of
the first 'Evolutionists' that tango had.
He introduced and firmly established piano as part of the tango orchestra.
He was an exquisite pianist specially remembered for his soloist
interpretations and the liberal use of pedal to acquire great resonance.
As composer he introduced a romantic air that had never been present before
in those tangos created for the dancer's feet.

Here some of his great compositions: Sentimiento Criollo, De pura Cepa,
Marejada. Also Fuegos Artificiales together with Arolas,
Didi, El Amanecer (first example of descriptive music in tango)...and many
others. He also liked Vals with passion and composed many of them with great
success during his time: Palida Sombra, Horizonte Azul, Noche Calurosa (one
of my favorites), Ondas Sonoras, Noches de frio and many others.

Evolutionist then is used here to signify a change, an evolution, a
different approach to the elements that had existed before.
This movement developed creating music quite different from the original
one.

Julio De Caro was born on December 11 1899 . The Day of Tango as on December
11 was also born Carlos Gardel.
Both were predestined to change tango one as Tango Cancion (singer) the
other as an instrumental interpreter.(violinist).

Julio's first music teacher was his father who was opposed to tango.
Secretly as a teenager Julio went to Palais de glace where he met Roberto
Firpo; the famous pianist invited the youth to come on stage and play with
his orchestra. To Firpos' surprise the boy played three different
'contracantos' each time that the first part of the Cumparsita was being
played. It was fate that sitting in one of the tables was Eduardo Arolas who
immediately invited Julio to join his quartet. These escapades caused that
his father finally expelled him from his house.

He is considered an Evolutionist because he introduced "arrangements",
"instrumental solos" influence from jazz and "variations". He gave a great
protagonist place to the piano that followed the melody with harmonies and
not only with rhythm as it had been done till then. He also changed the way
the bandoneon played, this influenced all the bandoneon players that
followed including Piazzolla.
It was this particular way of interpreting that ended the Guardia Vieja and
originated the Guardia Nueva. He even used a horn amplifier for his violin.
He died March 10 1988 but left his tangos: Tierra Querida, Boedo, Orgullo
Criollo, Mala Junta, El monito, Moulin Rouge,
y many others...

In summary both Roberto Firpo and Julio De Caro are "Evolutionists". De
Caro is more frequently mentioned as a typical representative of this
current.

bibliography Magazine Tango Nuestro. (special edition Diario Popular).