I roll out the driveway and head east down the midtown greenway headed for the West River Road, my favorite route in the early morning. This morning of romance and sunrise and cups of strong black coffee deserves the sweet sounds of beautiful flamenco guitar from internationally recognized classical guitarist Gabriel Ayala’s(Yaqui) latest CD titled Tango.
The flamenco guitar is a slightly smaller, brighter and more percussive sounding version of the classical guitar and is made of Spanish cypress and spruce with gut strings and still has the old fashioned wooden tuning pegs. Flamenco guitars really started coming into their own with the advent of nylon strings and mechanical metal tuning pegs. Flamenco guitar involves some stylistic differences from what is considered classical guitar.
Tango is a style of music that originated in the immigrant communities of Argentina and Uruguay, known for the style of dance associated with the music, it is commonly played by a sextet(orquesta tipica) consisting of two violins, piano, double bass and two bandoneons(small hand-held accordion).
“In American Ballroom tango, the “close embrace” involves close contact in the pelvis or upper thighs, but not the upper body.” It occurs to me that I am doing the Tango in close embrace on my bike down the Minnehaha Blvd. bike trail as I wind smoothly but aggressively in a staccato rhythm through the trees next to the creek. Yeah this ride is a tango.
La Cumparsita is perhaps the most widely known of all tango melodies and was composed by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez (1897-1948) from Uruguay who was a giant in the world of Tango in the early 1900’s.
Milongo del Angel, Buenos Aires Hora Cero, and Verano Porteno, were all composed by Astor Piazzolla (1921 -1992) an Argentine tango composer and bandoneon (small hand held accordion) player who created Nuevo tango by incorporating elements of jazz and classical music into the tango form.
The third track, Tango was composed by Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909), an important figure in the early establishing of the guitar as a concert and recital instrument.
Don Perez Freire was composed by Agustin Barrios Mangore, and contemporary guitar virtuoso John Williams has said, “As a guitarist/composer, Barrios is the best of the lot, regardless of era. His music is better formed, it’s more poetic, it’s more everything!”
Tango en Skai composed by Roland Dyens (b. 1955), the fifth trac on Ayala’s Tango CD, is his most widely known piece. Skai is French for imitation leather and refers to the Gauchos of Argentina and Southern Brazil because they are known for the distinctive leather outfits they wear.
Por Una Cabeza was composed by Carlos Gardel (1890-1935) whose recordings and films more than anyone’s are responsible for the spread of tango internationally.
The tango El Chocto was written by Angel Villoldo (1861-1919) who made the first ever tango recording.
This CD has work on it by all of the giants of Tango and is full of subtlety and nuance. It’s been some time since I listened to some actual precise guitar work and this CD has that and more. This is genuine flamenco and this CD is full of the deepest most profoundly beautiful stylistic narratives on the evolution of Tango music. I am at peace with movement like dance when I ride and I think everything is going to be all right.
I’m riding the bicycle tango through the trees, watching the creek flow, thinking that tango flows like sex and sweat and blood, not like water. Tango is a brilliantly played collection of works by all of the pre-eminent tango composers of history. This beautiful guitar work inspires, cajoles, coaxes and tells lies like all great romances and I ride with Willa and seventh grade puppy love on my mind and in my heart. I always wanted to do the tango with you and I never did. I regret that. But regret doesn’t stop no bike ride. This ride is for you. I remember you and those eyes like it was yesterday.
Jamison Mahto/Reporter
Indigenous in the News
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