Let’s celebrate one of the most important musical influences on tango—the habanera rhythm of milonga. But in the hands of the classic masters of tango this African musical element can be by turn simple and complex, driving and inviting. Explore the many faces of milonga in the comfort of your own home! That’s this Sunday on Tango Capital, 7:00pm to 8:00pm:

• broadcasting on 2xxfm 98.3 in Canberra,
• streaming live and also on demand from http://www.2xxfm.org.au

Image: Ann Smith – Multibrot Milonga

PLAYLIST:

Tango Capital returns to play the fourth Sunday of the month broadcasting a milonguita playlist for dancers . That’s this Sunday on Tango Capital, 7:00pm to 8:00pm:

• broadcasting on 2xxfm 98.3 in Canberra,
• streaming live and also on demand from http://www.2xxfm.org.au

PLAYLIST:

Tango Enigmático is the latest initiative of Brisbane-based contrabajista Chloe-Ann Williamson, and this edition she talks about where the ensemble came from, and where it is headed. That’s this Sunday on Tango Capital, 7:00pm to 8:00pm:

• broadcasting on 2xxfm 98.3 in Canberra,
• streaming live and also on demand from http://www.2xxfm.org.au

Image: Ann Smith: Tango Enigmático in concert at The Glasshouse, Brisbane, on 5 May 2019.

PLAYLIST:

• Enigmático, meaning ‘Enigmatic’; recorded by El Arranque in 2008; a concierto with music composed by Julián Camilo Ferrero.
• A Don Agustín Bardi, and also known as ‘Don Agustín Bardi’; recorded by Estigaribba, Cabarcos, & Lavallen in 2019; a concierto with music composed by Horacio Salgán, first recorded in 1950. The name is a reference to the tango musician of that name.
• Bettita; recorded by Nicolás Ledesma in 2015; a vals with music composed by Nicolás Ledesma.
• Hecho Por Mano, meaning ‘Hand-made’; recorded live from a performance by Tango Enigmático at The Glasshouse, Brisbane, QLD on 5 May 2019; a concierto with music composed by Owen Salome in 2019.
• Ensueños, meaning ‘Fantasies’; recorded by Quinteto Real in 1960; a tango with music composed by Luis Brighenti, first recorded in 1043 and lyrics by Enrique Cadícamo.
• Vamos Viendo, meaning ‘We Are Seeing’; recorded by Fabián Bertero in 2005; a concierto with music composed by Fabián Bertero.
• Corralera, from lunfardo; recorded by Federico Leopoldo in 1996; a milonga with music composed by Anselmo A. Aieta, first recorded in 1956. The name is a reference to a person born in or living in the Buenos Aires suburb of Los Corrales. Recorded live in Japan in 1996.
• Nuevo Y Vivo, meaning ‘New And Lively’; recorded by El Arranque in 2008; a concierto with music composed by Andrés Linetzky.

 

Last edition took a brief look at the enormous debt owed by tango to Roberto Firpo, and this edition explores their legacy of thousands of recordings made over half a century  in more detail. That’s this Sunday on Tango Capital, 7:00pm to 8:00pm:

• broadcasting on 2xxfm 98.3 in Canberra,
• streaming live and also on demand from http://www.2xxfm.org.au

Image Credit: Roberto Firpo in 1913 with his first ensemble, a trio. He is 29 or 30 years old in this image. Public domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Terceto_Roberto_Firpo.jpg

PLAYLIST:

• Alma De Bohemio, meaning ‘Bohemian Soul’; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 23 July 1927; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1914 and lyrics by Juan Andrés Caruso.
• Marejada, meaning ‘Sea Swell’; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 4 July 1929; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo in 1913, lyrics by Daniel López Barreto, and sung by Teófilo Ibañez.
• La Carcajada, meaning ‘The Raucous Laugh’; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 4 October 1935; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1917.
• La Bordadora, meaning ‘The Embroiderer’; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 22 March 1935; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1935 , lyrics by Venancio Clauso, and sung by Carlos A Varela.
• Alma Poética, meaning ‘Poetic Soul’; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 4 July 1937; a vals with music composed by Roberto Firpo.
• Dulce Perdón, meaning ‘Sweet Forgiveness’; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 22 March 1935; a vals with music composed by Roberto Firpo, lyrics by Francisco Brancatti, and sung by Carlos A Varela.
• Homero; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 19 October 1936; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1915. The name is a reference to the ancient Greek poet, Homer.
• DiDi, and also known as ‘Di Di’; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 11 June 1937; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1915.
• La Chola; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 16 Deptember 1941; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1913.
• Vea Vea; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 9 October 1947; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo in 1916 and lyrics by Carlos Waiss.
• Sentimiento Criollo, meaning ‘Argentine Emotion’; recorded by Cuarteto Los De Antes on 31 March 1939; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1913 and lyrics by Domingo V Lombardi.
• Montevideo; recorded by Cuarteto Los De Antes on 21 December 1939; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1916. The name is a reference to the capital of Uruguay that is situated about 200 kilometres from Buenos Aires on the opposite bank of the Rio De La Plata.
• Milonga Del Treinta Y Ocho, meaning ‘Dance Of 1938’, and also known as ‘Milonga Del 38’; recorded by Cuarteto Los De Antes on 23 May 1938; a milonga with music composed by Roberto Firpo.
• De Mi Arrabal, meaning ‘Of My Poor Neighbourhood’; recorded by Cuarteto Los De Antes on 18 May 1949; a milonga with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1942 and lyrics by Vicente Planells del Campo.
• Angustias Del Corazón, meaning ‘Anxieties Of The Heart’; recorded by Cuarteto Los De Antes on 2 January 1942; a vals with music composed by Roberto Firpo.
• Noche Calurosa, meaning ‘Balmy Evening’; recorded by Cuarteto Los De Antes on 11 September 1944; a vals with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1915.
• De Mi Flor, meaning ‘Of My Flower’; recorded by Cuarteto Los De Antes on 19 November 1948; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1914.
• El Horizonte, meaning ‘The Horizon’; recorded by Cuarteto Los De Antes on 23 May 1938; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1914.
• Curda Completa, meaning ‘Completely Sozzled’; recorded by Cuarteto Los De Antes on 2 May 1956; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1914.

 

Just Us Tango is the sound of tango to Canberra, and this edition includes a report on them playing at Smith’s Alternative last year. And, while Roberto Firpo is one of the most under-rated musicians in tango, he was incredibly influential and has a recording and performing track record comparable to that of his colleague Canaro. Listen in to find out why he rates more attention.  That’s this Sunday on Tango Capital, 7:00pm to 8:00pm:

• broadcasting on 2xxfm 98.3 in Canberra,
• streaming live and also on demand from http://www.2xxfm.org.au

Image: Ann Smith: Just Us Tango playing Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, on 25 April 2019

PLAYLIST:

• Ropa Blanca, meaning ‘Whites’; recorded by Ánibal Troilo on 3 May 1943; a milonga with music composed by Alfredo Malerba, lyrics by Homero Manzi, and sung by Alberto Marino. The name is a reference to white household linen.. It’s a complicated metaphor about the black hands of the Afro-Argentine woman washing white bedlinen clean in soapy water, weeping wet tears to wash away the pain after her love disappeared.
• Atardecer Campero, meaning ‘Country Dusk’; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 5 June 1936; a vals with music composed by Roberto Firpo.
• Argañaraz, from lunfardo, meaning ‘Those Good Times’, and also known as ‘Aquellas Farras’; recorded by Roberto Firpo in 1914; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo in 1913 and lyrics by Enrique Cadícamo. This is a 1 minute fragment, from around 0mm35ss to 1mm 35ss.
• Fuegos Artificiales, meaning ‘Fireworks’; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 4 January 1938; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo & Eduardo Arolas, first recorded in 1927. Possibly the first programmed tango, channelling the sound of celebratory fireworks into a milonga.
• Cero A Cero, meaning ‘Zero To Zero’; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 22 March 1935; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo , lyrics by Venancio Clauso, and sung by Carlos A Varela.
• La Trilla, meaning ‘The Threshing’; recorded by Cuarteto De Los Antes on 19 December 1936; a tango with music composed by Eduardo Arolas, first recorded in 1916 and lyrics by Héctor Polito.
• El Cuzquito, meaning ‘The Lad From Cuzco’; recorded by Roberto Firpo on 5 May 2959; a tango with music composed by Vicente Greco, first recorded in 1918 and lyrics by José Arolas.
• Alma De Bohemio, meaning ‘Bohemian Soul’; recorded by Pedro Laurenz on 15 July 1943; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo in 1928, lyrics by Juan Andrés Caruso, and sung by Alberto  Podestá.
• El Amanacer, meaning ‘The Dawn’; recorded live from a performance by Just Us Tango at Smith’s Alternative, Canberra on 25 April 2019; a tango with music composed by Roberto Firpo, first recorded in 1928.
• Mi Buenos Aires Querido, meaning ‘My Beloved Buenos Aires’; recorded live from a performance by Just Us Tango at Smith’s Alternative, Canberra on 25 April 2019; a tango canción with music composed by Carlos Gardel in 1934, lyrics by Alfredo Le Pera, and sung by Charles Hudson.
• Jacinto Chiclana; recorded live from a performance by Just Us Tango at Smith’s Alternative, Canberra on 25 April 2019; a tango nuevo with music composed by Astor Piazzolla, first recorded in 1965 and lyrics by Jorge Luis Borges. The title is the name of a character created by Borges and who is a personification of a brave porteño.
• Danzarín, meaning ‘Dancer’; recorded live from a performance by Just Us Tango at Smith’s Alternative, Canberra on 25 April 2019; a tango with music composed by Julián Plaza, first recorded in 1955.