Edgardo Donato- Virtual Class w/Makela 4/19/2020

Edgardo Donato 4/14/1897-2/15/1963

Real Name: Edgardo Felipe Valerio Donato

Violinist, leader, and composer

Place of birth: Buenos Aires Argentina

Raised in Montevideo, Uruguay

Osvaldo Pugliese - Virtual Class w/Makela 4/12/2020

Real name: Pugliese, Osvaldo Pedro (2 December 1905 - 25 July 1995)

Nickname: El chicharra (cicada) de Villa Crespo

Pianist, conductor, composer. (~450 recordings)

Place of birth: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Tango Musicality/HistoryMakela TangoApril 13, 2020Makela TangoArgentine Tango, tango musicalityComment

Francisco Canaro - Virtual Class w/Makela 4/5/2020

Francisco Canaro (11-26-1888- 12-14-1964) Violinist, conductor and composer

Nickname: Pirincho

Place of birth: San José de Mayo (Uruguay)

Singers of his orchestra (among others)

Ernesto Fama, Roberto Ray, Charlo, Roberto Maida, Francisco Amor, Carlos Galán

Tango Musicality/HistoryMakela TangoApril 6, 2020Comment

Aníbal Troilo - Virtual Class w/Makela 3/29/2020

Aníbal Troilo

Birth Name: Aníbal Carmelo Troilo

Composer, director, Bandoneón player

Lived: 1914 - 1975

Nickname: Pichuco

Tango Musicality/HistoryMakela TangoApril 6, 2020Comment

Juan D'Arienzo - Milonga vs Vals - Virtual Tango Class w/Makela - 3/22/2020

Start by learning about the BIG FIVE orchestras (the name of the orchestra is the name of the band leader)

1)Carlos Di Sarli (el señor del Tango), 2) Juan D’Arienzo (el rey del compás 3) Aníbal Troilo (Pichuco) 4) Francisco Canaro 5) Osvaldo Pugliese

Let’s start with the first two: Carlos Di Sarli and Juan D’Arienzo

Tango Musicality/HistoryMakela TangoMarch 23, 2020Makela Tango Comment

Tertulia #5 (conversations) with Makela and . Steven: MUSICALITY

First, when dancing it is important to find the pulse (the beat). After finding the pulse, we try to identify, the first beat of the phrase (number one): the strong beat. As dancers, we generally count a phrase in this way: one(strong)-two-three (semi-strong) four, five(strong again), six, seven (semi-strong) and eight, an then we start all over again.

Your Tango Music Collection - Part 5 - by Donald Cooper

The orchestra featured in this posting is Enrique Rodriguez y su Orquesta. On the album covers of these CDs you may notice that this orchestra is not identified as “su orquesta tipica”, but instead as “su orquesta”.

Your Tango Music Collection - Part 4 - by Donald Cooper

To continue our mini-series of blog postings with Golden Age Tango music suggestions, we turn now to two other great partnerships, that of the orchestra leader and pianist, Ricardo Tanturi,

Your Tango Music Collection - Part 3 - by Donald Cooper

The next orchestra we suggest adding to your music collection is that of Angel D’Agostino and his singer Angel Vargas, often referred to as The Two Angels.

Tertulia #4 (conversations) with Makela: Leader and Follower Relationship

Makela - (…) Tango is about two, whole and complete people coming together. Connecting, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and also socially. Of course the connection between the lead and the follow is very connected to the embrace.

La Orquesta Tipica by Donald Cooper

You may have noticed on many album covers the name of the orchestra leader is followed by the phrase, “y su orquesta tipica”, and perhaps dismissed it as just meaning something like “his usual orchestra”. However, la orquesta típica of the 1940s period referred to a specific combination of musicians and their instruments.

Tango Musicality/HistoryMakela TangoJanuary 31, 2019Makela TangoArgentine Tango

An intro to Pugliese by Steve Gordon

When you go to a milonga you will most likely hear Pugliese toward the end of the night. People are more comfortable with each other, the space and romance is in the air. Pugliese’s music is intensely romantic, filled with melancholy, passion and longing. Some recordings that demonstrate these qualities are “Recuerdo” and “La Yumba”

Tertulia #3 (conversations) with Makela: Technique and Improvisation

For me, improvisation is being able to use what you know and put it in a different way each time depending on the music and your partner. You need to have some kind of structure with parameters and from that you can find the freedom.

Your Tango Music Collection Part 2 by Donald Cooper

Now that you have some familiarity with the Big Four orchestras you will likely want to experience some of the other major orchestras of the period. Our suggestion (Makela’s and I) is to now become familiar with Miguel Caló and his “Orchestra of the Stars” and his famous singers, Raúl Berón, Alberto Podestá and Jorge Ortiz.

Your Tango Music Collection - Part 1 - By Donald Cooper

If you are a beginning tango dancer and want to get some music for practicing, or just want to enjoy listening to the music, then you may wish to buy some tango music for your personal music collection. The question you probably have is: What recordings should I buy? And where should I buy them?

"Tertulia #2" (conversations) with Makela - New to tango? Classes and "Tarea" (homework)

There are people who like to take private lessons more than others, I think you are more like that, and if you can take private lessons in addition to group classes that is definitely the best way to go. They are customized and hand picked training for you. Now, if you want to take group lessons I suggest the Absolute Beginners class on Saturdays.

"Tertulia #1" (conversations) with Makela - How did all this start? Get to know her philosophy and experience on tango -

About tango… And I always think the moment you stop studying is the moment you stop living basically. I always try to go back to Buenos Aires and talk to colleagues, practice, ask questions, read, and listen…Tango is such a huge array of things, the music, the history, culture, the relationship between a lead and follow, gender issues, so many things. It’s fascinating and I love it. ..

Carlos di Sarli - El señor del tango

Carlos di Sarli is one of the most important band leaders of tango. There are much information throughout the internet about him.

What it is not easy to find it is an expert point of view. Here you go: Carlos Di Sarli – my list of favorite tangos (with the collaboration of our DJ Donald Cooper).