Juan d'Arienzo - Tango Revolution

Orchestra: Juan d'Arienzo

Singers: Alberto Echagüe, Enrique Carbel, Instrumental

Period: 1935-1939

When you read about d'Arienzo, you might come across phrases like:"he returned music to the dancers", "he revolutionized tango music", "with d'Arienzo new era in tango music starts ", etc... I am not an expert, but I'm pretty sure that the people who wrote those statements, knew well what they were talking about :)

What I know for certain is that in 1935 something significant happened. When I go through my music collection in chronological order I have a feeling that all of the music before 1935 is somehow similar. That obviously does not mean that until that time nothing interesting was happening in the tango music scene. Lots of great orchestras were recording, each one with a particular style (especially Fresedo with his “Hollywood flavour"). But when I listen to the first recordings of d'Arienzo from 1935 they stand out significantly. Something has changed. It's like a breath of fresh air... There’s not point in writing much more. Just listen and judge yourself.

It's important to mention that Rodolfo Biagi was a pianist in d'Arienzo’s orchestra at that time (1935-1938). He did significantly contribute to the new, unique style.

DJ:

The D'Arienzo from the 1930ies is nearly a MUST for every milonga. The recordings are very rhythmical and easy to dance. No matter what time played, a tanda of songs from that period will surely bring most of the dancers to the dance floor.

Alberto Echagüe was the main singer of the orchestra in the 1930ies. Enrique Carbel has recorded only one song: Paciencia. Only one song, but a great one. Another singer from that time was Walter Cabral: he did not record any tangos, but rather a few valses and a milonga.

Song examples:

9 de Julio, Orquesta Juan d'Arienzo, Instrumental, 1935

El Flete, Orquesta Juan d'Arienzo, Instrumental, 1936
Bailan Octavio Fernandez - Corina Herrera
Bailan Chicho - Juana Sepulvera
Bailan Federico Naveira - Ines Muzzopappa

Ataniche, Orquesta Juan d'Arienzo, Instrumental, 1936
Bailan Federico Naveira - Ines Muzzopappa

Paciencia, Orquesta Juan d'Arienzo, Canta Enrique Carbel, 1937

Pensalo Bien, Orquesta Juan d'Arinezo, Canta Alberto Echagüe, 1938
Bailan Sebastian Arce - Mariana Montes
Bailan Pablo Veron - Teresa Cunha
Bailan Oscar Casas - Mary Ann Casas, Osky Casas - Luisa Pasierkowska

Nada Mas, Orquesta Juan d'Arinezo, Canta Alberto Echagüe, 1938

La Bruja, Orquesta Juan d'Arinezo, Canta Alberto Echagüe, 1938
Bailan Nestor Ray - Patricia Garcia

No Mientas, Orquesta Juan d'Arinezo, Canta Alberto Echagüe, 1938

Juan d'Arienzo, Osvaldo Ramos

Orchestra: Juan d'Arienzo

Singer(s): Osvaldo Ramos


Period: 1965–1974

Comment:

By far Osvaldo Ramos is not the most important singer recording with Juan d'Arienzo. Nevertheless I wanted to share it in a separate chapter because I like a lot some of their songs. And there are some really nice performances online. Enjoy :)


DJ:
There are not too many songs recorded by Ramos with d'Arienzo. The energy of several of them is amazing. If you play them in right moment, it can be  the best part of the milonga... Not that we are talking here about 60ies and 70ies, which is much later than the majority of classical tango music played in milongas. For me it still sounds good and can be played even in quite "conservative" milongas. There are not many other orchestras from that period about which I could say the same .


Song examples:

Mi Dolor, Orquesta Juan d'Arienzo, Canta Osvaldo Ramos, 1972, Bailan Sebastian Arce - Mariana Montes

Sentimiento Gaucho, Orquesta Juan d'Arienzo, Canta Osvaldo Ramos, Bailan Sebastian Jiménez - Maria Inés Bogado

Dimelo Al Oido, Orquesta Juan d'Arienzo, Canta Osvaldo Ramos, 1974

Remembranzas, Orquesta Juan d'Arienzo, Canta Osvaldo Ramos, TV recording

Juan d'Arienzo - Overview

The orchestra of Juan d'Arienzo is one of the most important (if not the most important) in the tango music history. I'm pretty sure that very few people would disagree with it. As per music survey I have carried out in February 2012, Juan d'Arienzo is the most frequently played orquesta in Buenos Aires (considering tango, milonga and vals all together).

D'Arienzo recored with many singers, but in my opinion there are 2 big names: Alberto Echagüe and Hector Maure. We can obviously find a lot of good songs recorded with other singers, but in general they are less interesting and for that reason they are not so frequently played in milongas.

Concerning instrumental recordings: in my opinion in all periods (1935 till 1975) we can find very good songs that can be played in milongas.

In the history of tango music you will not find many orchestras that would have a great selection of tangos, valses and milongas. D’Arienzo is certainly one of them. All 3 genres are play frequently in milongas both in Buenos Aires and Europe. Other orchestras that have wide selection of danceable and popular tangos, valses and milongas are Francisco Canaro, Anibal Troilo, Edgardo Donato.

The big entrance of d'Arienzo happened in 1935. But he did record quite may songs before that, in 1928. Between the singers at that time we had Carlos Dante and Francisco Fiorentino (that will become famous with other orchestras later on). From dancing and dj-ing perspective songs from that period are not really interesting.

Click the link below if you want to see the timeline of d'Arienzo's orquesta with the musicians set-up in different periods.
D’Arienzo – Orchestra’s Members

For detailed biographical information please go to:
Todo Tango - Juan d'Arienzo

For the best discographical information please go to:
Discography of Juan d'Arienzo