#tango dj

[tangoguide]

Cortina

Cortina Definition In the language of the milonga, a cortina, which translates to “curtain,” is a short piece of non-tango music, typically 60 to 90 seconds long. It is played by the Tango DJ (musicalizador) between tandas (sets of 3-4 tangos) to signal the end of the set, clear the dance floor, and allow dancers to find new partners for the upcoming tanda. Cortina in the Soul of Tango Ah, the…

[tangodj]

O2 Practica 11/29

3 Hours, Casual Practica with 3-song Tandas and Cortinas.

Listen on Spotify

Name, Singer, Orchestra, Year, Time, Genre

Soy Un Arlequin, Charlo, Francisco Lomuto, 1929, 3:25, Tango Prisionero, Charlo, Francisco Lomuto, 1928, 2:38, Tango Pim, Pam, Pum, Charlo, Francisco Lomuto, 1928, 2:25, Tango

Cortina - Santana - Oye Como Va

Cordobesita, Roberto Ray, Osvaldo Fresedo, 1933, 2:33, Tango Siempre Es Carnaval, Roberto Ray, Osvaldo Fresedo, 1937, 3:27, Tango El Once, Instrumental, Osvaldo Fresedo, 1935, 2:40, Tango

Cortina - Santana - Oye Como Va

Penas de amor, Instrumental, Juan D'Arienzo, 1935, 3:13, Vals Orillas del Plata, Instrumental, Juan D'Arienzo, 1935, 2:52, Vals Pabellón de las Rosas, Instrumental, Juan D'Arienzo, 1935, 2:53, Vals

Cortina - Santana - Oye Como Va

Uno, Alberto Marino, Aníbal Troilo, 1943, 3:30, Tango Cristal, Alberto Marino, Aníbal Troilo, 1944, 3:18, Tango Gricel, Francisco Fiorentino, Aníbal Troilo, 1942, 3:27, Tango

Cortina - I Saw Her Standing There (short)

Unión Cívica, Instrumental, Rodolfo Biagi, 1938, 2:27, Tango La Maleva, Instrumental, Rodolfo Biagi, 1939, 2:35, Tango Re - Fa - Si, Instrumental, Rodolfo Biagi, 1940, 2:52, Tango

Cortina - I Saw Her Standing There (short)

Larga las Penas, Instrumental, Francisco Canaro, 1935, 3:07, Milonga Negrito, Carlos Galán, Instrumental, 1934, 2:49, Milonga Milonga del 900, Ernesto Famá, Francisco Canaro, 1933, 2:59, Milonga

Cortina - I Saw Her Standing There (short)

Nido gaucho, Alberto Podestá, Carlos Di Sarli, 1942, 3:32, Tango Junto a tu corazón / Hoy como ayer, Alberto Podestá, Carlos Di Sarli, 1942, 3:03, Tango Nada, Alberto Podestá, Carlos Di Sarli, 1944, 2:46, Tango

Cortina - I Want You (short)

Y Siempre Igual, Raul Beron, Lucio Demare, 1942, 2:48, Tango Adios Marinero, Carlos Dante Y Julio Martel, Alfredo de Angelis, 1946, 2:41, Tango ** Oigo Tu Voz, Raul Beron, Lucio Demare, 1943, 2:58, Tango **I had “Adios Marinero” falsely cataloged in my library under Demare... Oops! Now I know, it is Angelis! That being said, I think this combination still worked well as a mixed tanda. 

Cortina - I Want You (short)

Llorarás... llorarás..., Floreal Ruiz, Aníbal Troilo, 1945, 2:55, Vals Palomita Blanca, Alberto Marino y Floreal Ruiz, Aníbal Troilo, 1944, 3:22, Vals Romance De Barrio, Floreal Ruíz, Aníbal Troilo, 1947, 2:37, Vals

Cortina - Dance With You (short)

El choclo, Instrumental, Juan D'Arienzo, 1937, 2:36, Tango El flete, Instrumental, Juan D'Arienzo, 1936, 3:03, Tango Don Juan, Instrumental, Juan D'Arienzo, 1936, 2:37, Tango

Cortina - Dance With You (short)

Barrio De Tango, Jorge Ortiz, Miguel Calo, 1943, 3:08, Tango Mi Cantar, Jorge Ortiz, Miguel Calo, 1943, 3:10, Tango Ya Sale El Tren, Jorge Ortiz, Miguel Calo, 1943, 3:15, Tango

Cortina - Dance With You (short)

La Puñalada, Instrumental, Juan D'Arienzo, 1937, 2:15, Milonga De pura cepa, Instrumental, Juan D'Arienzo, 1935, 2:50, Milonga Milonga, Vieja Milonga, Instrumental, Juan D'Arienzo, 1937, 2:39, Milonga

Cortina - The Spinners - Working My Way Back to You

Cancion de rango, Roberto Arrieta, Lucio Demare, 1942, 2:50, Tango Soy muchacho de la guardia, Roberto Arrieta, Lucio Demare, 1942, 3:21, Tango Un tango guapo, Roberto Arrieta, Lucio Demare, 1942, 2:55, Tango

Cortina - The Spinners - Working My Way Back to You

Domingo A La Noche, Raul Beron, Miguel Calo, 1944, 2:44, Tango Al Compas del Corazon, Raul Beron, Miguel Calo, 1942, 2:46, Tango Que Te Importa Que Te Llore, Raul Beron, Miguel Calo, 1942, 2:41, Tango

Cortina - The Spinners - Working My Way Back to You

La vieja serenata, Jorge Vidal, Guitars, 1951, 3:29, Vals Un cielo para los dos, Alberto Marino, Guitars, 1955, 2:44, Vals El viejo vals, Charlo, Guitars, 1955, 3:10, Vals (This lovely tanda from Pablo Stafforini’s Blog, Puro Compás)

Cortina - Dance With You (short)

Vida mia, Roberto Ray, Osvaldo Fresedo, 1933, 3:24, Tango Niebla del Riachuelo, Roberto Ray, Osvaldo Fresedo, 1937, 2:25, Tango Sollozos, Roberto Ray, Osvaldo Fresedo, 1937, 3:31, Tango

Cortina - Cheek to Cheek

Pasional, Alberto Moran, Osvaldo Pugliese, 1951, 3:20, Tango Cascabelito, Jorge Maciel, Osvaldo Pugliese, 1955, 2:39, Tango Remembranza, Jorge Maciel, Osvaldo Pugliese, 1956, 3:46, Tango

Cortina - Cheek to Cheek

Indio Manso, Instrumental, Carlos Di Sarli, 1958, 2:50, Tango El Jaguël, Instrumental, Carlos Di Sarli, 1956, 2:54, Tango Bahía Blanca, Instrumental, Carlos Di Sarli, 1957, 2:52, Tango

Cortina- Pretty Lights - Finally Moving

Mala junta, Instrumental, Pedro Laurenz, 1947, 2:58, Tango Quejas de bandoneón, Instrumental, Pedro Laurenz, 1952, 2:36, Tango A Belisario Roldan, Instrumental, Pedro Laurenz, 1953, 3:01, Tango La cumparsita, Instrumental, Pedro Laurenz, 1953, 3:18, Tango

Next time I will switch the order of the tracks in the tanda leading with “La vieja serenata” with Jorge Vidal-- the tracks are wonderful but the vals beat is not established by this track. 

[tangodj]

I was told by my teacher in Japan: "When the customer sits in front of you, it is your job to take them on a journey." I said, "Why?" He said, "Because you can."

Daisuke Utagawa

(Source: The Splendid Table) The interview was in regards to being a chef in a restaurant, but I feel that the sentiment applies to Tango as well. Whether you are leading, following, or DJing, you are part of creating an experience and journey for the others with you. Why not take that journey? Of course, where you go is up to you.

[tangodj]

DJ Confessional

I am approaching the one year anniversary of beginning to DJ, and I feel that between then and now I have learned some lessons... the hard way. I, Tango DJ Ali, confess to the following Tango DJ sins: 

Playing new alternative tandas, with tracks not familiar to my audience

Playing tango tracks intended for performance and not for social dancing (Have you ever played a song that caused everyone to completely stop dancing? I have! It really stings!) 

Playing tracks that I have not listened to in entirety, which had significant audio problems (blips, pops) or ended before the musicians stopped playing.

Playing songs for my own pleasure and not for the enjoyment and pleasure of my audience. (I would argue that this is the biggest sin a DJ can commit!) 

I feel a bit ashamed for admitting to these! I am lucky to have a great learning environment, with a receptive and forgiving (thank goodness!) audience. I feel like a lot of tango dancers are vocal about what they do and do not like (myself included.. ha!) and it’s easy to solicit feedback that is honest or constructively critical, especially from other DJs. 

That being said, the biggest lessons I have learned this year are ones that stem from failures and mistakes... They seem so basic looking back, but here we are. 

Prioritize the flow of the evening.

Listen to the all music you will play.

Fix audio issues. Do not play a track with audio issues.

Anticipate who you are playing for, and what they like. Play for the crowd!

In the past year I have focused on flow, playing good audio, and learning about my audience. It has helped to listen critically to other DJs, to take notes about tracks during a set, and to actively ask for feedback. Hopefully this can help someone before they play Se Dice De Mi! (What was I thinking!?)

--Your Repentant Tango DJ in Training

[tangodj]

Nice directory of interesting and new (to me!) tandas

[tangodj]

I found this today looking for some advice on good first tandas. It has a lot of good advice and tips for getting started as a tango DJ. 

[tangodj]

4. Oxygen Practica 8/13

2 Hours, Casual Practica with Tandas and Cortinas. 

I’m really enjoying my new iTunes setup. I can finally be confident in the playback and quality of my music collection. The tracks available on Spotify often have cracks and pops, or distortion that can keep dancers from becoming lost in the music. 

[tangodj]

List with Album Recommendations

Study material for me!