[Tango-L] What's the difference between a tango and a milonga?

[Megan Pingree]

Thank you, Ming Mar, for asking the same question that I asked on the  
DJ list (without response).  I was beginning to wonder if I was the  
only one.

The reason I asked is b/c I DJ,  and I like to put together fairly  
cohesive tandas.  But with the apparently widespread uncertainty re  
exactly how milongas, tango milongas and candombes are different, I  
have felt as tho my decisions were rather arbitrary.

I appreciate the information about the structure (ABA vs AB), the  
confirmations that it's not just the speed of tango as compared to  
milonga.  and that drums are a big clue that it's candombe, and the  
clarification that the milonga from which tango derived is different  
from what we know as milonga today.

For you dancers out there: what do you like?

For you DJs out there:  Do you play candombe tandas?  Do you mix  
candombe with milonga in a set?  I have been avoiding what sounds to  
me like candombe all together b/c I don't like a whole tanda of them,  
and I am not thrilled with mixing them with milonga b/c they do feel  
different and require a mid-tanda adjustment that may not feel good  
to dancers.

When it comes to tango milonga vs milonga, I have been just going by  
the "feel" of it.  For example,  I could put Canaro's La Cara de La  
Luna (~78bpm) into a set of snappy tangos (tho now that I look, I see  
that I don't really have enough in that range to make a good tanda),  
and the QP version (~92bpm) into a set of milongas.

seems reasonable? irresistible? :-)
Megan


On Jan 30, 2007, at 5:24 AM, Jeff Gaynor wrote:

> Excellent response Tom! Getting good information is a bit hit or  
> miss and I'm glad you set me straight on the background.
> I learn more things on this list... :o>  Jeff
>
> Tom Stermitz wrote:
>
>> Prior to the 1900s existed a dance/music/rhythm called milonga, out
>> of which tango developed. Modern milongas are something very
>> different from that pre-tango milonga.
........................