[Tango-L] Why are you dancing tango if they are not playing tango?

[AJ Azure]

Nothing wrong with having reasonable realistic standards.
As for being able to predict the next footstep because you're used to a
pre-recorded piece, you've just mentioned the most boring aspect of dancing.
Predictability. That's a dance routine.
Take Piazzolla out of the picture. Let's assume you can get the right songs
played. However, if you're looking for specific era arrangements (there's
that boring predictably) then you should supply them. Musicians can do
justice to these songs and have input in their arrangements and they can
still be traditional and quite danceable. What you're asking for is a carbon
copy tribute band. Those are pretty boring.
If you look at the live music experience as one that should duplicate the DJ
experience you're looking for the wrong thing.

The relationship between live music and dancers is an ongoing improvised
collaboration. It involves mutual respect.

As for the instruments, that really depends. There are ways to have
bandoneon tonality with out a bandoneon and electric guitars can sound ok if
used properly.

The first is an open mind and shedding the cliche mentality.
-A

> From: Vince Bagusauskas <vytis at hotmail.com>
> Date: Fri, 07 May 2010 09:15:22 +1000
> To: <tango-l at mit.edu>
> Subject: [Tango-L] Why are you dancing tango if they are not playing tango?
> 
> Only a few bands I have heard in Australia come anywhere near to the typical
> Golden Age band sound.  Doubt any ever will as who can afford the have *any*
> type of big band play these days.
> 
> I would like to pay a little more and hear at the very least a bandoneon
> player in a band as it gives authenticity to the music.  But in Australia
> there are very few players and only one band (in Melbourne, a family affair
> from South American extraction) that has one.
> 
> Also, seems like many comments have already stated, the local bands I have
> heard, play for themselves, rather than for the dancers who enjoy the sounds
> of the Golden Age.  Some bands, because of their various combination of
> unique instruments  (try having an electric guitar, organ or harp in your
> band), vocal  style and arrangements are difficult to interpret and thus
> dance too.  Music that we are familiar with, having heard a hundred times
> before hand, the leader knows what is coming ahead how to hit the right
> accents and I followers appreciate that from comments I get.  Try doing that
> to some weird Piazolla piece (for example) and the leaders job has just
> become so much more difficult than it already is.
> 
> When music is not danceable in the traditional sense (you may insert nuevo
> here if you like) or the singer is just plain off key (which happened to me
> here recently), then it time to go to the bar or have a toilet break and not
> delude oneself that you are listening to tango music "tipica".
> 
> So what do others think?  Do you go to any band than plays tango or do you
> have standards?
> 
> Vince
> In Melbourne
>  
> 
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