How to improve musicality

[JournalInTime]

It depends. I plan to play next tandas Firpo '35-37, Lomuto '37-42, OTV '31-37.

That's somewhat better, but I confess to still hearing the elements I dislike there. I listen to tango music all the time at home, and have observed that – for me – the trend is that the closer the composition is to 1950, the more I'll like it. And, with one or two exceptions, the orquestas founded after 1930 or so appeal to me more than those that have earlier roots.

 

[itwillhappen]

I play some vintage tandas in the first hour, so the dancers don't have the stress of missing something when changing shoes.
And generally I don't play what pulls me out of my dreams when I prelisten the tracks.
That's a current distribution:

Cnt Genre Min Avg Max
065 Tango 1932 1949 2022
016 Vals 1931 1945 1955
012 Milonga 1938 1943 1950
001 Chanson 1936 1936 1936

 

[JournalInTime]

I play some vintage tandas in the first hour, so the dancers don't have the stress of missing something when changing shoes.
And generally I don't play what pulls me out of my dreams when I preview.
That's a current distribution:

Cnt Genre Min Avg Max
--- -------------------- ---- ---- ----
65 Tango 1932 1949 2022
16 Vals 1931 1945 1955
12 Milonga 1938 1943 1950
1 Chanson 1936 1936 1936

Your date range would make me very happy.

Here the custom is 4T-4T-3V-4T-4T-3M, so it's 16/22 tango, 3/22 vals, and 3/22 milonga. Against 94 tunes (your total above), that would be 68 tangos, 13 valses, and 13 milongas – or in real tandas, probably closer to 68 tangos (17 tandas), 12 valses (4 tandas), and 12 milongas (4 tandas). You have a few more valses and fewer tangos . . . which would also make me happy. I'm a vals fanatic and would happily dance at an event that was up to 50% valses.

 

[itwillhappen]

Your date range would make me very happy.

Here the custom is 4T-4T-3V-4T-4T-3M, so it's 16/22 tango, 3/22 vals, and 3/22 milonga. Against 94 tunes (your total above), that would be 68 tangos, 13 valses, and 13 milongas – or in real tandas, probably closer to 68 tangos (17 tandas), 12 valses (4 tandas), and 12 milongas (4 tandas). You have a few more valses and fewer tangos . . . which would also make me happy. I'm a vals fanatic and would happily dance at an event that was up to 50% valses.

Yes, I play 4T-4T-4V-4T-4T-3M, as some DJs in my Germany and most DJs in the appreciated Netherlands.
And tango is 64+1 Cumparsita.

 

[opendoor]

More than 80% of what I hear and play nowadays are carefully done transfers from sources like Tango Tunes or Tango Time Travel or contemporary recordings.

Perhaps you remember that I pointed Christian of TT to the right pitch!

 

[itwillhappen]

Perhaps you remember that I pointed Christian of TT to the right pitch!

I only stated "carefully done", not "right".
My musicality is the musicality of Joe Average, I suppose.
Sounds rather bad, but that has two advantages for me:
As a dancer, the pain in my ears at an average milonga is limited.
As a DJ, I can focus on the things that really matter for Joe Average.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

I'm talking 1895-1925. Carabelli, yes . . . and Firpo, Lomuto, and OTV. Canaro, De Angelis, De Caro, Donato, Fresedo, et al. are much too late; that's all early Epoca De Oro.

Oh, well, that early stuff is so poorly recorded, it's not surprising it sounds less than optimal.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Ask them to describe what they hear. This is what new dancers whom we might to describe as "unmusical" are hearing.

Sure, but don't forget those new dancers are a self-selected group of learners. They've chosen this, it's something they want to do. They are interested participants in the game.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Yes, I play 4T-4T-4V-4T-4T-3M, as some DJs in my Germany and most DJs in the appreciated Netherlands.
And tango is 64+1 Cumparsita.

Four vals songs is unusual. I don't think I've heard more than three in a row. Many DJs play three of everything, in fact.

 

[JournalInTime]

All I'll say is that my personal theory is that while tango dancers are good with 4/4 and its cousin 2/4, they're rotten at 3/4, so they prefer to avoid vals. Also, they're obsessed with pauses, especially paradas, so they're rotten at a constantly advancing, turning, energetic 3/4 time. As literally all of my teachers have said, tango vals is in reality faster, more dynamic, and more forward-moving than milonga.

 

[Rabbit]

Tango music can be a truly negative experience for some of them!

We had a spontaneous outdoor milonga at a small lake. After two hours he arrived, not aggressive but furiously frustrated telling us - I came here with my tent for some relaxation but your music is horrible, so monotonous. I cannot take it anymore!!!!!!

Depending on the DJ set, such a reaction can sometimes be objectively correct.

 

[opendoor]

..tango dancers ..they're rotten at 3/4 ..prefer to avoid vals..

When I enter a milonga (rarely enough these days) all the good followers run up to me and ask if I could dance the next vals tanda with them.
Now I know the reason, I'm just not a good enough tango dancer

 

[JournalInTime]

When I enter a milonga (rarely enough these days) all the good followers run up to me and ask if I could dance the next vals tanda with them.
Now I know the reason, I'm just not a good enough tango dancer

It probably means you're a good one, my friend!

I have similar experiences, and I've asked my followers why. The answer is "Because you dance a real vals, not a tango to vals music."

I'm NOT putting myself out there as some sort of champion! However, I do make a serious effort to dance only 1-1-1, 1-2-1, 1-3-1, and 1-2-3; not to insert pauses or stops, except between paragraphs; to advance at all times except when blocked; and to dance a predominantly turning dance. One of the few things that all of my teachers have agreed on is that these principles are central to tango vals.

When I watch the floor, lots of leaders are dancing as though there's an imaginary 4, pausing mid-phrase, standing around in place, acting as if turns don't exist, and generally dancing a stately walking tango to a lively vals. I don't see a lot of smiles on the faces of their followers. I'm pretty sure followers like the chance to whirl down the floor.

 

[LadyLeader]

The trouble with the atomized perspective (everything's a step or a pivot) is it's like saying that there are 26 letters in the alphabet. It doesn't really help you understand the language because it's too reduced. That's why we have names for steps and figures.

When the motorbike worked ok enough it was used on my childhood roads. But when there was a problem the engine parts were on the garage floor for thorough search. That was the day when your good knowledge about the parts and their function gave you sooner a new ride.

Different bikes needed specific knowledge and so need the techniques different tango teachers have!

(btw Finnish alphabet has 29+2 letters! )

 

[itwillhappen]

When I enter a milonga (rarely enough these days) all the good followers run up to me and ask if I could dance the next vals tanda with them.
Now I know the reason, I'm just not a good enough tango dancer

The waltz is not only a German/Austrian/Polish folk dance, but also the traditional wedding dance. So be on your guard in case the women's intentions are not clear!

But the vals tandas are very popular here anyway, the milonga tandas could also be left out for some.