|
The Milonga: Milonga (creole/gaucho dance) contributed to the early rhythmic development of the tango. The controversy arises when discussing the influence of Candombe (African-Argentine music) on the tango. Some Argentineans oppose that viewpoint strongly on racial, cultural grounds, who knows! The Milonga was influenced to some degree by blacks in Argentina being a creole dance. Milonga is an afro-Brazilian word meaning "words", in Argentina it came to represent a large, joyful, unruly gathering, very often associated with bordellos located near military barracks. Singing and dancing was popular at these gatherings, the chief instruments here were the guitar, drum and later the flute. It is believed that the dance evolved from these gatherings. Whites in Argentina emulated these dances which they saw during carnival, and they continued the tradition of the dances. The higher classes abhorred this dance form because it was mainly done by the urban poor, creoles, immigrants and it was strongly linked to the prostitution houses in Buenos Aires. Even the language of the early tango songs is very crude called lunfardo, associated with thieves, criminals and such. It was taken to Europe where it became very popular, especially in Paris. Apparently it was then brought back to Argentina before WWI, and was changed somewhat and became more socially acceptable.
|
|
||||||
|
© 2006 Tango Jax Site Design By:Jim Scalise | ||||||||
