[Tango-L] Recognizing Tango Music

[Myk Dowling]

On 11/06/10 10:24, Trini y Sean (PATangoS) wrote:
> Let me try to clarify. If a tango melody played straight through to a 
> specific rhythm of 1-3-1-&3-4, for example, just to pull some numbers 
> out of the air, wouldn't it still be a tango, even if the rhythm is 
> repetitive? Or are you saying that it would have to have some other 
> variation? And if so, why do you say that.

If I'm reading your notation correctly, that would be a milonga, not a 
tango. You can take any tango and put it to a milonga rhythm. What you 
get is a milonga, not a tango. You could play an entire tango in simple 
4/4 beat. It would be very boring and most people would consider it 
undanceable, but (and here's the important part) that's not a rhythm. A 
rhythm is a pattern of strong and weak beats overlaying the basic time 
signature. And that's the difference between tango and other dance 
music. Other dance music has a specific rhythm that must be followed for 
the dance to fit. Tango has a variable rhythm, and it is that variation 
that is one of the most vital aspects of tango music.

Myk,
in Canberra