TANGO ARGENTINO – A SUCCESSFUL RETURN TO THE PAST
STANISŁAW MARKOWSKI
When a hundred years ago Tango overwhelmed Argentina, and, in fact, a few harbor districts of Bueons Aires, nobody was aware, what career it would make and how quickly it will overwhelm the whole world.
A beautiful nostalgic music, peaceful but clear rhythm on 4/4, mainly with accents of 1 – a classical tango, or on 1 and of 3 – milonga, and also in the rhythm of a waltz of ¾ - although it is danced on 4/4. In the beginning of the guitar, later bandoneon/ the most tango-like instrument/ the violin, flute, piano, tuba. Never percussions!
From the spirit of freedom of enormous Argentinian pampas and the Andes, coloured with nostalgia of Italian, Spanish, African, Jewish emigrants….Also the Polish ones. Much contribution into the Argentinian Tango was given by our Jerzy Petersburski, who composed ‘Tango milonga’/ known also as ‘Donna Klara’/ ‘This last Sunday’, played and danced already before the war in Bueons Aires and later all over the world.
In 2004 I started my photographic journey following the Argentinian Tango in the world. I made a thousand of photos.
Bueons Aires, Monte Video, San Francisco, New York, Paris, Berlin, Lebanon, Barcelona, Warsaw, Cracow….Yes, I was not wrong. The whole world started loving the Tango anew.
The Argentinian Tango is danced in Tokyo, Hog Kong, Moscow, Istanbul, in the ports of the Aegean Sea, South Africa, in Sweden, Finland, Canada, Australia…Why does it happen so, that after aspiration for the American and Anglo-Saxon pop culture in Bueons Aires and all over the world in the 60s and 70s, there was a return to the Tango? The archaic, anachronistic piece of culture?
In order to understand it, only a little is needed. It is necessary to open an Argentinian webpage Original tangos: www.todotango.com, 100, 200, 500, 1000 tangs…, have a look how it is danced on You Tube. Write: tango argentine, milonga, tango walse.
One of Argentinian poets said: ‘Tango is sadness which dances itself’. And there is something in it. Melancholy, reflection, exaltation, discovery of archetypical need of experiencing emotions with another person, thoughtfulness, finally peace, balance, joy…I also found a kind of rest and peace in these melodies, rhythm and music colour, although in the first moment it seems hardly probable. For, Tango is also a stimulation and surge of energy. But Tango is mainly music, and then a dance. For, this dance results from music. It is not about dancing for two, because music is played rhythmically. It is impossible not to dance if we hear this music. We express it in dance and we get united with it in its beauty, melancholy and rhythm. We dance music, not the dance….
For May 2015 I am preparing the publication of a photographic album about the Argentinian Tango. Certainly, Buenos Aires is going to be its important part. But also the rest of the world and Poland.
It is impossible not to recall the excellent person of our last pope – Francis /…Bergolio/ today, who speaks about Tango in a friendly and sentimental way. After all, it is his youth and life in Buenos Aires and his friends who still dance and create a phenomenon of Tango. Once, when I was photographing a street festival on one of suburbs of Bueons, I noticed that most believers, participating in the Holy Mass earlier, were having a feast together and were having fun in dancing Tango. With their families. Elderly people, adults and children. It was very moving. Moreover, it was a serious and joyful Tango.
I am glad that my reflections and experiences about Tango converge with what our pope Francis thinks. For, it was the time when there were attempts to separate this dance, this music from honor and faith. Whereas, in today’s times of moral chaos, appearing anti-human and anti-divine ideologies like gender theory, bringing back proper and normal relations among people, between a woman and a man: fascination, sensitivity, care-giving, sharing emotions and finally love, are a needed deficit value, treasure.
I also invite all readers to follow the unusual event which is going to take place on 17 December 2014 on the Square of St. Peter in Rome. There will be the so-called milonga the most popular in the world/ this time it is the name of the place and time when only tango is danced/ it was dedicated to the Holy Father – Francis, in order to recall his family town, his fascination with tango, so as to bring him joy. A few thousand pairs are going to dance, in a spontaneous way/ it is always so in milonga. Long live tango! Long live pope Francis!
AA
„Niedziela” 51-52/2014