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Tag Name: Tanda of the Week


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Alternative Tanda 27: Dubstep

This week's alternative tanda is a very high energy set inspired by Dubstep.

This set is a lot of fun and has gone over well here when I have played it. Personally I love dancing to "Too Close." I think this is an example of what I look for in alternative music to dance tango to. The thing that I love about tango is the structure: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, verse. You have 4 shifts of energy during a song, usually from more lyrical/melodic to more rhythmic/beat oriented. While I find "Radioactive" a little cheesy and pop music sounding, it has the shifts that I like for dancing. "Too Close" has those shifts also from very tender to very bold. I love those transitions. It gives me opportunities to go crazy and to calm down.

I like "Sail," but it has less dramatic shifts. Much of the alternative music that people play, I find very monotonous. They are long and sound exactly the same through the entire song. When do I dance close, when do I open the embrace? When do I go from rhythmic to lyrical? I would have to force those shifts rather than them happening organically with the music, because the music is the same throughout the whole song.

Listen to this Tanda

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Traditional Tanda of the Week 50: Troilo with Fiorentino

This week's traditional tanda is a fun set by Anibal Troilo with Francisco Fiorentino singing.

This is a very high energy, rhythmic set. Troilo and Fiorentino were one of the greatest duos in the history of tango and their partnership is often used as the best example of the use of the singer as a true member of the orchestra.Troilo is a favorite of advanced dancers because his music switches back and forth between strong rhythmic sections and more melodic sections.

I normally start a tanda off with the slowest tempo song and then increase the tempo during the set, but here I am doing the opposite. The reason is, hearing the first few notes of "Te Aconsejo Que Me Olvides" tells you exactly what this tanda is. It is going to be fast paced, highly rhythmic and spirited. If that is what you like, then head to the dance floor. If it is too much for you, stay seated, listen and enjoy.

Listen to this Tanda

 

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Traditional Tanda of the Week 46 - Miguel Calo con Raul Iriarte

This week's traditional tanda is a elegant and romantic set by Miguel Caló with Raúl Iriarte singing.

Caló had created a unique sound around Berón's smooth vocal style, which was unlike the other singers of the time. In 1943, Berón left Caló's orchestra to join Demare's orchestra. Caló briefly worked with Jorge Ortiz and Alberto Podesta during 1943, but ended up with Raúl Iriarte, who had a similarly silky vocal quality to Berón.

Listen to this Tanda

 

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Traditional Tanda of the Week 45 - Juan D'Arienzo with Hector Maure

This week's traditional tanda is wonderful set by Juan d'Arienzo with Héctor Mauré.

The role of the tango singer was evolving in 1940, when Mauré joined D'Arienzo's orchestra. The singer was taking a stronger role and combinations such as Di Sarli/Rufino and Troilo/Fiorentino were having a lot of success. Mauré's smooth, lyrical style might not have seemed like a good fit for D'Arienzo's more rhythmic orchestra, but it worked. Between 1940 and 1944 D'Arienzo and Mauré recorded about 50 tracks.

Listen to this Tanda

 

 

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Traditional Tanda of the Week 44: Tanturi-Campos

This week's traditional tanda is medium tempo set by Ricardo Tanturi with Enrique Campos.

Tanturi's orchestra, while not standing out musically, can be described as mature, solid, with an understated elegance. The orchestra was more well known for its singers Alberto Castillo and Enrique Campos. Tanturi and Castillo recorded many songs of a fairly rhythmic nature.

After Alberto Castillo left the orchestra, in May of 1943, he was replaced with Enrique Campos. At this time, Orchestras that were moving to a more melodic sound, such as Caló with Beron and Di Sarli with Podesta, were doing very well. With Campos, Tanturi's music became more melodic, but without sacrificing the rhythm. Unlike Castillo, Campos was not a show-off and sang in a calm, simple voice and was at the service of the orchestra.

Many believe that while Castillo had a better voice, Campos is better for dancing. I am more 50/50 on this and very much enjoy dancing to both Tanturi-Castillo and Tanturi-Campos, although they are very different. Tanturi-Campos recorded 51 songs between 1943 and 1946.

This tanda features two of their most famous tangos, "Una Emoción" and "Oigo Tu Voz."

Listen to this Tanda