September 8th, 2008 in Tango Music, Tango Tips | 241 Comments »
Here is what your instructors want you to listen to when they are asking you to “dance to the rhythm”: The double bass playing in the background. If you don’t know what the double bass is, it’s this gigantic violin type of instrument that’s played usually standing up. If you’ve heard your tango instructor go “pum, pum pum, pum pum pumpumpum”, while explaining a step to you (Argentinians do it more often than others), he is attempting to reproduce the sound of the double bass. That’s the part of the music that tango players and dancers use, that’s our time keeper, our metronome.
For examples of a clear, rhythmic and prominent double bass, I would recommend the orchestras of Carlos Di Sarli, Juan D’Arienzo and Francisco Canaro. I would also suggest an exercise: Go to your favorite music player (i.e. itunes) and play any of the classical tango songs you have, e.g. one of Carlos Di Sarli. Now open the equalizer (under the “window” tab) and drag all the sliders completely down except for the left most 3. What you are hearing most prominently now, is the double bass. Try to recognize it the next time you are dancing.
Have fun!
August 10th, 2008 in Tango Music, Tango Tips, how to dance tango | 79 Comments »
Many students of tango, a few days after they’ve begun and have mastered their ocho cortados and “close embrace” start hearing key words like “Musicality” and “cadence” and so on. Now, some of us are fortunate to be gifted with a sense of music that does not need explanations but most of us, even when they are intrigued by a particular form of music, need someone to explain to them, what the hell is musicality ? Or rather ”what exactly am I looking for” in here ? And once they know, everything becomes much more enjoyable.
Just like a cubist painting, which may evoke some pleasant emotions just by looking at it, but becomes much more impressive and effective once it makes more sense, once you know what’s special about this technique. In other words ”What to look for” in it.
So here is my humble attempt at trivializing this abstract quality called musicality: At the most basic level, it involves going slower or faster depending on the music. Now, purists are going to cringe at this description. Of course there is much more to it than slowing and speeding. It’s like describing impressionism as ”Oh that’s just when you use dots and more discrete strokes and distort stuff rather than drawing a photo-realistic representation”. But it’s a good beginning.
Read my next post for more on tango rhythm and ”what to listen to”.
July 19th, 2008 in Tango Places | No Comments »
Although very few people would associate Colombia with anything else but salsa, it happens to be a very eclectic country as far as dancing and music is concerned. Of course, salsa plays a central role in the dancing and music scene of colombia but there are pockets of the country in which other types of music is also popular and flourishing.
the best place to go Tangoing in Colombia is the beautiful city of Medellin. The great Carlos Gardel died in this tango capital of Colombia. I unfortunately did not get a chance to visit this city during this visit, as I was essentially stuck in Bogota.
One might think that Bogota is devoid of tango being on of the Salsa capitals of the world. But even here there are a bunch of choices as far as tango is concerned. My favorite is the little known “El viejo Almacen del tango” which does not have that much web presence, but is a quaint little place in the heart of bogota, in the old colonial Candelaria. The place is guarded by wooden doors and unless you are looking for it, you are unlikely to come across it. But there is no cover charge (unlike salsa places in Bogota) once you enter, you will see a wall full of old records and a little bar with cheap beer. People mostly come in couples and are mostly regulars.
Here is the exact address:
El Viejo Almacen del Tango.
Calle 15 No 4-18C
Candelaria, Bogota.
Tele: +57-1-284-2364.
It’s just off avenida Jimenez (Ac 13), approximately behind the Crepes place.
Definitely check it out if you are in that part of Bogota, after having a nice creme bruelee or a tart at the french bakery nearby.
For examples of a clear, rhythmic and prominent double bass, I would recommend the orchestras of Carlos Di Sarli, Juan D’Arienzo and Francisco Canaro. I would also suggest an exercise: Go to your favorite music player (i.e. itunes) and play any of the classical tango songs you have, e.g. one of Carlos Di Sarli. Now open the equalizer (under the “window” tab) and drag all the sliders completely down except for the left most 3. What you are hearing most prominently now, is the double bass. Try to recognize it the next time you are dancing.