Caminito Community Tango Orchestra London Semester 1 (Sept-Jan)

This project has been developed in order to spread knowledge about the genre of Argentinian tango music. There are lots of instrumental techniques not used in other styles (see The Strad article: https://www.thestrad.com/34.article ) as well as ways of phrasing and feeling music that is very particular to tango. It is a rich musical genre that is still not well-known in the UK.

Caroline Pearsall, who is a specialist in this music (see biography here www.carolinepearsall.com) will teach you about the various new techniques and about the styles of the different tango orchestras from the start in the 1920s to the golden period of the 1940s, up to and including Piazzolla.

The tango music teachers are Caroline Pearsall (violin), John Turville the pianist of LTO, Enrique Galassi (bass player), Alejandro Schwarz (composer & guitarist), Guillermo Rozenthuler (voice) or Guillermo Willis (bandoneon) and Alejandra Gordon (violin), who will be the main rehearsal coordinator. Caroline will also invite other well-known tango maestros if the budget allows! The goal is to create a flourishing tango music community in the UK which is connected to the communities in France and Argentina too.

As well as musical practice you will also learn more about the history of tango music and who the most important tango musicians were.

There will be performances each year, as the relationship between the music and the dance is a very important one and you learn a lot by playing for people and seeing how the dancers react to the music you make.

And we will wear black/red and dress up (tango has a glamorous side so feel free to dress up!).

The repertoire is structured to cover the main periods of tango music evolution. These being the Guardia Vieja 1910 - 1925 (Year 1), Guardia Nueva 1925 - 1950 (Year 2), La Vanguardia (1950 - 1970) (Year 3) and Periodo Contemporaneo 1970 - today (Year 4).

Each era has its own exemplary orchestras, and for example the Guardia Nueva (also known as Golden Era) will have works by Carols Di Sarli, Osvaldo Pugliese, Astor Piazzolla, Anibal Troilo, Juan D’Arienzo etc.

The arrangements will be made to cater to the levels so if you have any difficulties with any bars/parts please let me know so that it can be adapted for you.

You will be expected to practice a bit in between sessions – time together will be limited and the work will be more musical than technical. It is a group project so part of a good musical group experience is that people know the notes already in the rehearsal! Please bring a pencil and music stand and be prepared to make notes about how we play things. You will also be expected to print out your parts.

Host or Publisher Caroline Pearsall