Angel D'Agostino - Virtual Class w/Makela 6/28/2020
Angel D’Agostino (1900-1991)
Real name: D'Agostino, Ángel Domingo Emilio
Pianist, composer, leader and DANCER
Place of birth: Buenos Aires Argentina
In his own words
“I am a milonguero (tango dancer) (…) so I shaped my orchestras with two conceptions that I never gave up: respect for the melodic line and rhythmic emphasis to make the dancing easier. When the singer breaks into the scene and displaces the musician from the spotlight, the orchestra was structured in such a way that music and singing did not interrupt the possibility of dancing. For that, the singer had to turn into one more instrument, a privileged instrument, but not apart.»
He started his first orchestra strictly for tango in 1935 (before he had orchestras that also played other rhythms including Jazz). The members of this orchestra were, Angle D’Agostino in piano, three bandoneonists (Angel Domínguez, Jorge Argentino Fernández, Anibal Troilo), Hugo Baralis (violín), Alberto Echagüe (singer). Angel D’Agostino introduced Echagüe to D’Arienzo and then they would go and make the unforgettable duo D’Arienzo/Echagüe
His most important singer was Angel Vargas (“El Ruiseñor de las calles porteñas” -The Nightingale of Buenos Aires Streets), and with Angel D’Agostino, they were called the two Angels. They met in 1934, they recorded 93 songs, and they worked together until 1946.
My favorite D’Agostino tango is Café Domínguez. I had the privilege of performing it with Fabian Irusquibelar in 2010 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkkfETiNFcA . This recording is from a different orchestra.
The other two tangos I love from this orchestra are “Sólo Compasión” and “ Tres esquinas”. Enrique Cadícamo, a famous lyricist wrote the lyrics of Tres Esquinas (recorded with the voice of Angel Vargas). This tango was named after a coffee shop at Montes de Oca and Osvaldo Cruz street (intersection) in the neighborhood of Barracas.
Tangos/valses/milongas I love by this orchestra
Café Domínguez
Sólo compasión
Tres esquinas
Shusheta (El aristócrata)
Mano blanca
Adiós para siempre
No vendrá
Trasnochando
Adiós Arrabal
Bailarín de contraseña
Palais de Glace
El Morocho y el Oriental
Agua florida
Ahora no me conocés
Pero yo sé
Esta noche en Buenos Aires
Un copetín
Rondando tu esquina
La nueva vecina
Caricias
Ninguna
Una pena
A quién le puede importar
Muchacho
A Pan y agua
Racing Club
Esquinas porteñas (Vals)
El espejo de tus ojos (Vals)
Yo tengo una novia (Vals)
Entre copa y copa (Milonga)
Compadreando (Milonga)
El Porteñito (Milonga)
Todos te quieren (Milonga)
En lo de Laura (Milonga)
Así me gusta a mí (Milonga)