[Tango-L] traditional tango music

[Jay Rabe]

Well, it seems here we go again. To those of us who've been on the list for several years, this thread comes around about every 9 - 12 months. Lots of passionate, absolute positions are stated, but I doubt anyone's previous opinion is ever swayed.
Regardless, I'll weigh in with my 2 cents.
 
First, yes, a very good reply:> ... You're writing to a tango list, expecting people> to sympathize with your distaste for tango music?
But I want to take issue with the statement:
> What is really odd is> that what makes tango so very very special is the music. 
 
Here's my take on it: Yes, the music is a PART of what makes tango special, but IMO it is not THE thing that makes it special, nor is it the most important thing. 
 
Just for the record, I love traditional tango music. But I also enjoy dancing to alternative music that has the proper tempo and rhythm structure and a decent amount of emotional content. Please note carefully the qualifications: proper tempo, rhythm, and emotional content.
 
> ... A lot of other> dance music seems so emotionally shallow in comparison,...
 
No argument, but not ALL other dance music is emotionally shallow.
 
So if the music isn't the central thing, what is? For me, the most important thing, the thing that makes tango so special, that makes tango "Tango," is the connection between the partners. The connection is facilitated by the improvised choreography, which requires a moment-by-moment  lead-follow communication, which leads to the deep connection that has been labeled as the Tango Moment or Tango Zen or similar things, but without that improvisation and the lead-follow connection, you've just got another ballroom-style dance, regardless of how passionate the music is. After all, there's lots of passion on Dancing with the Stars, but no one on this list will argue that it's anything close to "real" tango.
 
        J
 
 
 
 
 
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