Tango

I have left to the last minute my main assignment for my composition resit. But I was inspired last night, while awaiting for my hamster's babies to arrive (which they still haven't btw), doing a Tango. I am not sure if this would entirely fit my lecturers requirements but the idea is to have two violins (my hamsters) having a "lover's tiff" and making up accompanied by the remaining instruments I must use to do the dancey beat and decorate the music.

Anyway, tangos, what do I need to know? and is it possible to make a six min tango without it getting boring?

Well, it would help if you

a) Studied a tango - (Lecuona, Piazzolla, or just some more pop ones)

b) Sketch a few ideas.

Now, the concept is fine -- tango is basically a dance between two lovers. As for a six minute one, yes that can be challenging to maintain interest. You could have two tangos in one and then use some of the sonata development devices to illustrate the tiff - maybe the two tangos are in different keys or they are similar but the play against each other slightly off or form a disagreeable canon before restating the two tangos.

Or for a simple time extension, write a trio and have a reprise of the original dance, perhaps with some development.

At this moment in time, I am not really worried about the length. Maybe my original post is a little confusing. I am ok on the melody and so forth, I am just confused as to the basic dance rhythm because for my assignment I have use a rhythmic cell or motif and I am planning on using a dance rhythm to fulfill this. So I need one instrument (possible a double bass/cell) JUST playing a rhythm over and over.

Well, you could have rythmic variation - it's like when in straight jazz, the bassist uses a triplet feel to break up the monotony of the eighths that he's playing, but just for a few beats...

I have no info really on tango, but I'm sure there's some version of a - crap I can't think of the word, but its equivalent to a tala in Indian music - CLAVE! involved, based on the country of origin. So I feel as long as the "feel" is implied, you can play around with the rhythms...

If its rhythems you are wanting, there are two main rhythems used in tango in the bass (i've put together the basic rhythems and an example of their application, hastily done but hopefully you can get the general idea :))

As far as a melody goes try using dotted rhythems along with some triplets (though don't go over bored with the triplets).

As far as your idea goes... the idea of two hamsters doing the tango is great! I'd suggest maybe having a violin and a cello instead of two violins; that way when one has finished its melody it wont sound similar to the other one becuase its in a different range, and would mean the listener would be kept more engaged by the difference (also the cello could represent the male hamster and the violin the female hamster lol?)

tango+smit

The above link will take you to a guy called maarten smit who posts scores and recordings of some of his tangos for free - they're really good.

Hope this helps,

Ferret

Tango Example.pdf

Thank you for the examples.

The tango was originally designed to be danced by two men for the benefit of one woman. You see, the population of Buenos Aires in the 1800s was predominantly male, and the few women that did live there were prostitutes. So, the men would dance, and the prostitute would decide who her client for the night would be.

The tango is less about love and more about sensuality. Basic rules of tango are: 4-beat musical phrases, whether an actual 4/4 time, or a slower 12/8 time. The 12/8 time is called the tango waltz, and is danced slightly differently. The dance itself is actually divided into subsets of 6 beats, creating a visual-auditory syncopation that is very beautiful.

The "orquestra tipica" for the tango is: string section (violin, viola, cello), bandoneon section (often three or more bandoneons), and rhythm section (piano and double-bass). Smaller tangos feature a reduced version of this orchestra called a "sexteto tipico."

The tango was originally designed to be danced by two men for the benefit of one woman. You see, the population of Buenos Aires in the 1800s was predominantly male, and the few women that did live there were prostitutes. So, the men would dance, and the prostitute would decide who her client for the night would be.

The tango is less about love and more about sensuality. Basic rules of tango are: 4-beat musical phrases, whether an actual 4/4 time, or a slower 12/8 time. The 12/8 time is called the tango waltz, and is danced slightly differently. The dance itself is actually divided into subsets of 6 beats, creating a visual-auditory syncopation that is very beautiful.

The "orquestra tipica" for the tango is: string section (violin, viola, cello), bandoneon section (often three or more bandoneons), and rhythm section (piano and double-bass). Smaller tangos feature a reduced version of this orchestra called a "sexteto tipico."

Thanks for this. My inspiration is a tango-like work not strictly a formal tango since I have other requirements to fit into the piece and a fixed selection of instruments to choice from.

The tango was originally designed to be danced by two men for the benefit of one woman. You see, the population of Buenos Aires in the 1800s was predominantly male, and the few women that did live there were prostitutes. So, the men would dance, and the prostitute would decide who her client for the night would be.

The tango is less about love and more about sensuality. Basic rules of tango are: 4-beat musical phrases, whether an actual 4/4 time, or a slower 12/8 time. The 12/8 time is called the tango waltz, and is danced slightly differently. The dance itself is actually divided into subsets of 6 beats, creating a visual-auditory syncopation that is very beautiful.

The "orquestra tipica" for the tango is: string section (violin, viola, cello), bandoneon section (often three or more bandoneons), and rhythm section (piano and double-bass). Smaller tangos feature a reduced version of this orchestra called a "sexteto tipico."

Lovely post! Thanks for this! :)