“Fueron tres años” by Héctor Varela y su Orquesta Típica with Argentino Ledesma in vocals, 1956.

Héctor Varela

Bandoneonist, leader, arranger and composer
(January 29, 1914 – January 30, 1987)

Lead bandoneon and arranger of the Juan D’Arienzo Orchestra for ten years, he identified himself with the trends of a genuine traditional origin. As a major attraction, his orchestra boasted the precision of a difficult technical performance in the middle of a very personal hasty rhythmic beat.

And that is, exactly, what Varela strove for during his tango career: to play with his orchestra for dancers.

He was a musician criticized by the innovative players but loved by the fans of dancing and popular tango. I think that his best artistic stage was in the early 50s. Later, like his teacher D’Arienzo, his orchestra declined into a commercial vein, due to the impressive boom of his record sales. Continue reading at www.todotango.com…

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"La torcasita", Argentine Tango music sheet cover.

“La torcacita” by Carlos Di Sarli y su Orquesta Típica, 1941.

José Martínez

Pianist leader and composer
(28 January 1890 – 27 July 1939)

The most valuable heritage he left for us is his numerous works as a composer:

“Yerba mala”, dedicated to Bardi; “Samuel” and “El pensamiento”, to Castriota; “Canaro” to Canaro; and “Pablo”, to Pablo Podestá.

Furthermore he composed the music of: “Pura uva”, “El cencerro”, “De vuelta al bulín”, “El palenque”, “Olivero”, “Calma chicha”, “Punto y coma”, “Lepanto”, “El matrero [b]”, “Expresión campera”, “El acomodo”, “La correntada”, “Carbonada”, “Pedacito de cielo [b]”, “Tengan paciencia”, “Polvorín”, “Marianita”, etc.

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Orlado Goñi con Troilo y Fiorentino. Argentine music at Escuela de Tango de Buenos Aires.

“En esta tarde gris” by Anibal Troilo y su Orquesta Típica with Francisco Fiorentino in vocals, 1941.

Orlando Goñi

Pianist and leader
(January 20, 1914 – February 5, 1945)

With a soft sound, clean and paused phrasing, and a never-ending creative imagination, he had an inimitable way of «driving» the orchestra. He was used to a strange position seated at the piano, without orthodox postures, spreading his legs wide open, and generally not using the pedals. He had an informal attitude with his low-register left hand connecting phrases, tired, with a close comping beat and legato chords in rubato tempo.

In the Buzón’s orchestra, he met Aníbal Troilo, whom he met again in 1936 in the Juan Carlos Cobián Orchestra.

In 1937 Troilo decided to put together his own group and summoned his friend Goñi to be the pianist of the orchestra.

For him, Troilo was another soul with the same musical ideas. He switched from one orchestra to another, but here he remained until September 1943. That was enough time to achieve a recognition that would last for decades. Continue reading at www.todotango.com…

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Yo quiero cantar un tango. Argentine music at Escuela de Tango de Buenos Aires.

“Yo quiero cantar un tango” by Pedro Laurenz y su Orquesta Típica with Alberto Podestá in vocals, 1943 (English translation).

José María Suñé

Lyricist
(15 January 1911 – 1 May 1976)

“Yo quiero cantar un tango,
un tango sentimental

que me recuerde en sus notas
la canción que abrigó
mis noches de arrabal.
Yo quiero cantar un tango,
un tango sentimental,
para acunar en sus versos
la ilusión de ese amor
que no he de ver jamás…

La vi…
llegando por el callejón,
con el rumor entre sus labios
de una música de amor.
Y toda la sensación
que secreta puso en mi alma,
se aviva en mi interior…

Yo sé…
que aquel encuentro de arrabal,
vino a calmar con sus encantos
mi dolor sentimental.
Pero yo…
mal rumbeado por mis penas,
así, sin razonar,
me alejé sin verla más…”

Translation:

I want to sing a tango,
a sentimental tango
that reminds me in its notes
the song that sheltered
my nights in the suburbs.
I want to sing a tango,
a sentimental tango,
to cradle in its verses
the illusion of that love
that I will never see…

I saw her…
arriving through the alley,
with the rumor between her lips
of a love music.
And all the feeling
that secretly puts in my soul,
it lights up inside me …

I know…
That meeting in the outskirts,
came to calm down with its charms
my sentimental pain.
But I…
bad cursed by my sorrows,
so, without reason,
I walked away without seeing her anymore…

Tango 1943
Music: José Nieso / Miguel Nijensohn.
Lyrics: José María Suñé.

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“Mañana iré temprano” by Miguel Caló y su Orquesta Típica, with Raúl Iriarte en vocals, 1943.

Enrique Francini

Violinist, leader and composer
(14 January 1916 – 27 August 1978)

A violinist of remarkable precision, standard vibrato, polished and unmistakable sound with a prodigious left hand, he has stood out, also, because of a personal way of dividing the musical phrase.

He turned out an important musician due to hard studying on his instrument, even at the peak of his success, he studied more than ever before. Continue reading at www.todotango.com…