Music for Argentine Tango

By Stephen and Susan Brown
A guide into tracks best-suited for performers first learning to hear the rhythm of Argentine tango music.

Overview

Outside of Argentina, most people usually do not grow up hearing tango music. Consequently, many start performers face the challenge of finding songs that is ideal for understanding how to hear and go on to the beat of tango. Many instructors suggest you start with the music for the Carlos Di Sarli orchestra, and then we start thinking about that a beneficial suggestion.

We think, however, that start performer will do better by paying attention and moving towards tangos on Francisco Canaro's Los Angeles Melodia de Nuestro Adios and Miguel Caló's Yo soya el Tango before going onto Di Sarli. The tangos on these two CDs are among the best for discovering the walking rhythm of tango since they have actually a definite and easy beat this is certainly more powerful and nearer to a walking tempo than that available on Di Sarli tracks. We Advice using the tangos regarding Canaro CD first since they are somewhat slower in tempo compared to those regarding Caló CD.

After learning to relocate to the tangos regarding two Canaro and Caló CDs, numerous beginning performers are ready to pay attention and move to the instrumental tangos of Carlos Di Sarli. Top available Di Sarli CD is Solo Tango: Instrumental Vol. 1. The tangos on this CD have a definite and simple walking beat for dance. The release RCA Victor 100 Años is almost nearly as good. The Tango Argentino release Instrumental is a significant third choice. For anyone wishing to include a vocal dimension to Di Sarli's music, the CDs Sus Primeros Exitos, vol. 1 with singer Roberto Rufino or Porteño y Bailarin (Tango Argentino) with vocalist Jorge Duran tend to be outstanding alternatives.

After learning how to proceed to Di Sarli, the start dancer is able to go onto the rhythm master, Juan D'Arienzo. To understand to listen to and proceed to the 2x4 rhythms of Juan D'Arienzo, El Esquinazo 1937-1938, or Instrumental, vol. 1 will be the most readily useful choices. For D'Arienzo, El Esquinazo has got the most readily useful collection of paths in best-sounding collection of D' Arienzo's classics. Instrumental, vol. 1 has actually a lot more of D' Arienzo's classic instrumentals than just about any other CD and incredibly great quality of sound. Other alternatives are Sus Primeros Exitos vol. 1, Sus Primeros Exitos vol. 2, or El Rey del Compas.

After D'Arienzo comes the greater amount of subtle Anibal Troilo and Ricardo Tanturi with Alberto Castillo. The CDs Yo Soy El Tango (Troilo en RCA) and Instrumental (Tango Argentino) are the best alternatives for Troilo's very early instrumentals. The CD Troilo/Fiorentino (Solo Tango) captures Troilo using vocalist Francisco Fiorentino. A lot of ideal material from the three CDs are found in the even more accessible El Inmortal Pichuco (El Bandoneon) but at far lower fidelity. When it comes to Ricardo Tanturi orchestra with vocalist Alberto Castillo, the Solo Tango release, Tanturi/Castillo is a superb option. The Tanturi/Castillo CDs, Tangos de mi Ciudad and El Tango es el Tango are rather great.

The second challenge is always to move on the songs of De Angelis, Pugliese and Biagi. The music of Alfredo De Angelis provides a bridge from Di Sarli to Pugliese because De Angelis orchestra played solid party music with a feel involving the smoothness of Di Sarli as well as the crisis of Pugliese. For Alfredo De Angelis, either From Argentina to the World or Instrumentales Inolvidables is a good choice.

For a dancer going on the more difficult rhythms of Pugliese, the CD Ausencia captures dance classics from both very early and soon after in the profession, showing his transition from more solid dance rhythms to the more challenging, but beautifully powerful La Yumba beat. The CD Instrumentales Inolvidables is a great second choice.