[Tango-L] Tango is Argentine

[Sergio Vandekier]

Bettina says:  
 
"Finally - as food for thought - I personally do ask why everyonethinks it is "Argentine" : much of the music 
originates of the Black culture that was "imported" slave labor there at the time (rhythm),the bandoneon came from Germany (that much for the soul of a germanthat invented those kind of strings), and those compadritos for the most part were Italians and Spaniards (passion and nostalgia) . . .Most women in those bordellos were "imports" from Russia, Italy, Spainand so forth. There were actually only few "real" Argentines, as stilltoday those Argentines are missing a true identity as they areImmigrants for the most part (over 70%)."
 
 
Dear Bettina,  Food for thought? I think that it is rather for an indigestion.

 
            The music was composed by Argentines, born on Argentine soil, that music is a reflection of the Argentine culture.  Most of the musicians were first generation Argentines, descendants of Italian Immigrants.
 
The music is soo Argentine that although musicians of almost every country have composed tangos, none of them sound Argentine, and you immediately recognize them as foreign. (Many of them are beautiful tangos, like Jealousy, composed by the Danish composer Gades).I have a colection of Turkish, American, japanese, Russian, French, Italian, etc, tangos.
 
If tango was the creation of 'Black or Europeans' it would have been born in Africa or in Europe, but it did not happen that way, it was created in Argentina, the only place, where it could be born.
 
 The same way as Samba was created in Brazil, Cumbia in Colombia, Rumba, Bolero, Mambo, in Cuba, Fox-trot, swing, Blues, Country Western in the USA. Salsa in Puerto Rico, Merengue in the Dominican Republic.
Polka in the Czech Republic and Waltz in Austria. Fado in Portugal and Rebetika in Greece.
 
Each dance is a reflection of the culture that originated it.  
 
The bandoneon came from Germany, (Bandoneon, by the way dear Bettina is not a string instrument), the guitar from Spain,the violin, the bass, the flute, the piano came from other places.   You can put all those instruments and all the ones that exist in the world together in some other place than Argentina and Tango will not be created. The same as Jazz could not be created outside the USA. ( I mean originaly).
 
The compadritos were Argentines, born on Argentine soil.  The women in the bordellos where French, Polish, Argentine, etc, but they did not create the tango. They danced with their clients.
 
Argentina is a melting pot, their ancestors arrived from all over the world but their children were born on Argentine soil and nurtured by a distinct and strong Argentine Culture, which is different from any other.
 
North Americans were also born on American soil, it does not matter were their ancestors came from, they were nurtured by a strong culture different from any in the world. A unique culture that originated some of the most interesting music of the world.  
 
Argentines do not miss any identity, they are distinct and proud of who they are.
 
Summary: Tango is as Argentine, as the other music an dances belong to the cultures that originated them
 
         Tango has a Universal appeal, that does not make it less Argentine.
 
Best regards, Sergio
_________________________________________________________________
Express your personality in color! Preview and select themes for Hotmail®. 
http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/LearnMore/personalize.aspx?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HYGN_express:082009