373  Tango Music - Genesis

Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2002 14:45:15 -0800
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: Tango Music - Genesis

1 - Genesis 1850 - 1880

El Candombe, La Milonga, La Habanera and El Tango Andaluz are considered to
have exerted some influence in the genesis of the Argentine Tango.
The first tangos appeared around 1880, those primitive tangos where
different than the ones we know today, they did not have a definite form.
They had a marked influence either from the Andalusian Tango or from the
Milonga, some had some Habanera or Candombe in them. It is possible to see
how certain Andalusian Tangos that were part of musicals coming from Spain
changed to adapt to the local taste. Even lyrics originally Iberic changed
to adapt to the Argentinean environment.
This influence remained till approximately 1912.
Some tangos of this period with Andalusian influence are Bartolo, La
Morocha, Cuidado con los cincuenta. Many of these original tangos suffered
many "arrangements" that changed their original form.

Other types of tango exhibit influence from the Milonga this lasted till
the musical notation changed (1915) from 2/4 to 4/8.
From this period is El porten~ito for instance. Most people would think
that it is a Milonga but originally it was a tango written in 2/4 like the
modern milonga. El Choclo, El Esquinazo, El Entrerriano are other examples
of tangos originally written in 2/4 notation.
The book "Historia Orientativa del Tango" by Jorge Strada gives a long list
of tangos from this period.
Among them El Porten~ito (1880 ) No me tires con la tapa de la
olla (1888 anonymous)
El Entrerriano (1897 Rosendo Mendizabal) to mention some that are well
known.

Musical groups were formed by Flute, Guitar and Violin to these "Tercetos"
an accordion or a mandolin were occasionally added . Other times the
Harmonica or 'Comb and paper" added a special flavor.

These primitive tangos were intended for dancing but many of them had
recitations (coplas) that the public sang as a chorus.

Bibliography : Historia Orientativa Del Tango - Jorge Strada