[TANGO-L] foxtrot

[Crrtango @AOL.COM]

Oleh asked:

"How often have tango orchestras performed foxtrots?"


Actually, maybe always. It wasn't unusual for tango orchestras to play and
record other non-tango music from time to time and some did it; some more than
others. Many tango musicians also played other venues both classical and
popular, including music from other cultures like rock and jazz. Juan D'Arienzo
(classically trained, as were many tango musicians) played in a small jazz
ensemble before dedicating himself to tango.

In the early days, when musicians could make an income playing at a silent
cinema, they had to know other familiar songs but cinemas would also allow them
to play tangos because they were free to improvise. On the other hand, some
functions like private society parties might prohibit them from playing any
tangos at all. So it was not uncommon for tango musicians to be versatile. Modern
tango CDs are a little misleading in that they are compilations of selected
tangos and can span many years, where in reality an orchestra might have had
other types of songs on their albums. Not to say that some weren't exclusively
tango but it wasn't unusual to hear other music.

cheers,
Charles