The tango experience is all about the music, first. And what glorious music it is.
When I began this restoration odyssey in 2001, it seemed in many ways a fool's errand; but something had to be done to improve the quality of the recordngs and I was just the fool to try it! Any improvement in the sound quality of the music was worth the labour in those days.
It nows seems it was useful for me to struggle and sweat with those bad-sounding recordings in the beginning, because I accumulated a goodly number of tricks and starting getting somewhere.
I think it was useful for the community, too, to have a desire for the music to sound better rather than just excepting the poor quality that record companies issued in such a casual manner.
Slowly, slowly, the quality of what they released started getting better. This made my life easier, because I could find better versions to work from. So that, by 2004, I was able to re-do everything I had done and get more satisfying results.
At this point, much better versions of the original Masters are seeping out. To the extent that it now is clear that most of the great recordings were actually WELL RECORDED. We just couldn't tell that, because all the reproductions were of such poor quality.
Being an avaricious collector, I can play you multiple versions of the same recording which vary wildly in sound quality. It's exasperating, but when you find one that isn't bad, you want to jump for joy. Obviously, it's the better quality version I want to work from.
I've now got versions that are sort-of breath-taking. A few times, the quality is so good, I was worried I was being tricked somehow. And then, along would come the clicks and scratches and dust from the original disc and I would sigh in relief! Yes! The real thing!
And if I can say this with appropriate humility, there is still a place for me and my restoration mania. Because I'm the only one going sit there forever and take out the noise by hand. It's SO time-consuming it just can't be done by a commercial enterprise.
And it sure can't be done by using software. I have a real hate for recordings that have been put through computer noise-reduction. Nails on a chalkboard-tyoe reaction to those.
So, time has been kind finally to the tango catalogue of great recordings. We have better reproductions being issued; we have technology that has advanced considerably in the last 4 years; and, in my case, years of experience making it all better.
Many people have supported my efforts (whether they know it or not) and I've poured all of it into upgrading my tools and collecting all the material I can get my hands on. After the cleaning, I use todays's audio engineering devices to maximize the audio quality in the rendering.
I'm not sure of the exact number yet, but it looks like the catalogue will be around 3,000 selections. All newly re-mastered in the last few weeks.
Dj-ing is a great pleasure for me; for the past few weeks it has become newly exciting as each week I go with all new renderings. The sound is fat and clear and clean and the musicians sound like they recorded yesterday.
I have lots to say about the discoveries I have been making. The clearer things are, the more you understand about how the original recordings were made.
As of December 31, there are over 700 additions/replacements.
It will take a bit of time for me to update all of the information on this website about what is what now. And provide new audio samples.
Lots more to come ...
(Past purchasers of the Digital Pak can take advantage of an up-grade program).
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ToTANGO Digital Tango Restorations
23¢ per song and less!
Imagine holding a few DVD's in your hands or a small drive in your hands, plugging it into your computer or iPod, and up pops 2,000 tangos for dancing - restored, enhanced, crystal-clear Argentine Tango by all the greats. No annoying noise, scratches or clicks!
Coaching For Dancers
Next Session Begins January 9
The important information dancers need to get to the next level never seems to be imparted unless you go for a private class. If you find a teacher willing and able to communicate what it is you need to know to be a better social dancer.
Our 2-hour sessions with a small group gives the benefits of a semi-private class - with lots of information about the music and how to move to it as well as they key body adjustments the individual ought to make. Fridays, 8-10 PM at 24 Mount-Royal West, Suite 207, Montreal.
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The Age Thing
Maturity Comes When?
"Tango has to be understood and that happens at least when you are 45 years old." - Lucio Demare (he composed "Malena" when he was 36).
Wow. What a revealing juxtaposition of words.
Pugliese composed "Recuerdo" when he was a fresh teenager. (And never had another one as good).
(If Demare actually said that ...) it's both true and not true. I agree with the theoretical proposition - but ...
Always depends on the person. (Old souls do exist and are born - meaning young people can dance tango).
But, one way or the other, it takes appreciation of life experience to "get" tango, for sure.
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Looking at Poema
Neat contast in styles
'Came across this page - which shows a few dances to Canaro's Poema - by different couples.
Aside from the general interest, it ought to be inspiring to lovers of Nuevo who haven't yet found a way to dance social tango in a close way when there are many dancers on the floor. Some lovely dancing by professionals here.
(Disclosure: I didn't know I was being quoted. I saw this page when doing a "Poema" google).
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Milonga
A Gift From The Gods
Milonga WAS given to us by the gods to bless our souls with joy and happiness.
But, it seems to me, the essence of milonga is not immediately devined by
the new lover of tango. Milonga is like tango itself; also like what an
interesting woman may do to an ardent gentleman admirer: kind of retreat
behind a veil while the pilgrim makes his journey to a sufficient level of
understanding that the veil may be safely let down for admittance.
My personal intuition is that there is kind of a path a good many people
follow in getting all the way to "getting" tango. We fall in love with the
tango dance; we eventually discover the joys of vals; after that, the
milonga is more accessible.
But, few there seem to be in the lands outside of Argentina who have a
feel for milonga.
The reason for this could be that, being in 2/4, it has the feeling of
being "fast." Dancers who start to enjoy it and sense the fun tend to
"run." Many orchestras have recorded milonga at a tempo pushing the limit
because that's what one does for shows.
So, many will use milonga to kind-of show-off. Even before they have the
skills to do so. In North America, one sees many men just running and
pushing and flailing around - not providing much enjoyment for the
followers who have to run to keep up. Those men are having fun, which is
good. But, the milonga veil is still up for them - or they would not be
that way.
I can only speak of personal experience and that may not be worth much.
But for whatever it's worth, I offer that milonga reveals its true nature
when danced slowly.
Those who attend my milongas or dance milonga with me know that I favour
the slow and moderate-tempo milongas first of all. Canaro (the Master);
Donato (a Genius); and of course moving up the tempo scale to Di Sarli,
D'Arienzo and Troilo (Genius Masters as well).
The veil has been lifted when one enjoys the SLOW milongas (if I may say).
Milonga danced well is very subtle. No wild movements. No running. I
always teach that - though it is very exciting music - the dancer should
be very calm and peaceful inside to dance it well. Purposefully put the
excitement meter on low. Slow the beating heart. Then everything opens up.
When I met with and interviewed maestro Roberto Alvarez of Color Tango, I
told him that to use his milongas when I dj, I slowed them down (without
changing the pitch) 4 B.P.M. so that they are danceable. (He did not take
offense).
You have to breathe when dancing milonga. You can't breathe properly if
your are running.
I recognize that fast milongas bring a lot of joy to many, many dancers. I
play them. But, I work my way up to them. Starting off a milonga tanda
with a really fast milonga doesn't make sense to me, musically. Start with
a slow one; go up in tempo; finish with a fast one. This is my way, at
least.
If the reader is not a milonga fan at this time, please know that your
tango will be much more satisfying to you when you have become a milonga
dancer whom others enjoy dancing it with.
To be a really good tango dancer, it seems one must have a beautiful vals
and a beautiful milonga in them as well. Then, you can dance tango.
All good tango dancers know this to be true.
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On Behalf of the Singers
Before Gardel, There Was Caruso
Who new to tango hasn't sought ought instrumentals first so they didn't have to listen to the "annoying" singers? Of all the aspects of tango requiring acquired taste, the singers take the most getting used to - to a non-Latin, non older-person ear.
For the first 30 or 40 years of tango, there were no singers. They kind of had to fight their way in. The one who really kicked the door down, of course, was Carlos Gardel. His was tango's biggest "before-and-after" moment.
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Conscious / Unconscious
Different Approaches to Tango
If you're thinking, your partner has to be thinking, too.
If you're lost in the music, the feelings, the moment, you're partner can be, too.
In such a state, tango takes over.
When you "direct" it yourself, it plays hide-and-seek with you.
It's all tango; but when your brain is "off," the pleasure and satisfaction increases in proportion to your surrender.
This is why my way of teaching is to make the body memory work; to make things as automatic as possible in order that spontaneous expression comes out effortlessly.
I like to show how to hold the body; how it should move with your partner. How it signals to keep everything together. All so that the mind can be sort-of shut-off. Seeking unconscious competence.
The less "thinking" the better.
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Ladies Leading
Opinion
Man though I am, I shall dare to offer another way of thinking about it all.
There is a very good reason why many women decide to give leading a go: so
they don't have to sit all night.
Typically, there are more good women dancers than men. Most of the women I
have seen, in many cities, giving lead a serious try is so that (as single
women) they don't get bored out of their minds every time they go out. I'm
on their side. Stay at home - or lead a bit? Why not? These tend to be women who have been dancing a long time and are good dancers.
No one should feel threatened.
Of course, they find me a willing partner and a help if they are seeking
that. The ladies who lead me are social friends and we are having fun for
a few minutes. Real tango fun.
It's a growing trend. 'Gonna happen whether people like it or not. Together with this is the trend of more men wanting to follow. It can only help their dancing.
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Tandas - So Cool
As a programmer and as a dancer, the Tanda custom in Argentine Tango seems to me to be such a cool invention.
What are it's origins? Sergio Vandekier explains from Mar Del Plata:
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ToTANGO RESTORATIONS
Paying Homage to Great Artists
The first email I received in 2008: "Hi Keith - I ordered 5 CDs for my husband's Christmas stocking and my goodness. they
are FABULOUS! What a difference compared to our other CDs. We absolutely
love what you've done and would like to order more with your 5 CD special
for $69."
The last thing I did in 07 was add 60 new Canaro renderings to the ToTANGO RESTORATIONS catalog. Also great additions by D'Arienzo, Laurenz, Troilo, Di Sarli and Lomuto.
And on the subject of recent emails, this from a DJ:
"Hi Keith ‚
Going through Troilo, I realized I had 2 versions of 'Orlando Goñi' from
1952. One from the recently released "Archivo TK", and one I got from you
awhile back. I wanted to believe that the new release might magically be a
bit better but whoa! Wait a minute ... sounds like the typical "goose the
bottom end and they will like it" treatment from TK. So listening a few
times more, I was easily convinced that yours is better, by far (to
discerning ears). I think you had good source material, and you took
special care not to mess up the tonality of the piano and bass. Ohhhhhh,
the piano sounds delicious on your copy! The whole thing is bright,
accurate, with the bass in its proper position and sounding like a musical
instrument rather than a fog horn.
So, out goes the TK version, and me with a knowing smirk on my mug as I do
it, thinking of you there with your ears laid back tuning that track up a
few years ago!!"
Have ToTANGO's Exclusive Restorations In Your Collection!
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Tango Conversations
One Way of Looking At It
It's easy to put oneself in a category, noticing that many other dancers are not the same.
We could be new or experienced; like to dance close, or not; prefer nuevo or not, etc.
Here is a category I am in: I don't really enjoy dancing if there is no conversation. By that I mean - both people expressing themselves.
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Considering Cortinas
The Dj's Personality Revealed
I've not discussed Cortinas here much, not wanting to criticize others nor reveal what goes into my special bag of tricks. ;-) But, really, with so many new dj's plying the trade, some of the issues ought to be examined and some guiding principles tossed around - for many nights are being diminished by bad cortina choices from amateur dj's.
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The Destruction of RCA's Masters
And now - the Details
When RCA destroyed it's Masters of tango recordings 40 years ago, a major reason for our Restoration Project took place.
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Tango Styles and Attitudes
Peter Bengtson's Tango Style table is humourous - and/but full of insight ... a kind of mirror in many respects. Do you see yourself in it?
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The Tango Trance
Seek it, and it will elude you;
Talk about it in too much detail
and it will haunt you evily.
Live for it, and you will die many deaths.
Treasure it, but don't hold onto it.
Dance with love and freedom
and it will embrace you.
Be vulnerable, and feel it's power.
Dan Boccia
Anchorage, AK
tangotrance.com
© 1997-2008 Elshaw Communications Inc.
All rights reserved.
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