Tangos de Mi Novia (tangos). Composed and performed by Son de la Frontera.
According to musicologists like Faustino Nuñez, Guillermo Castro, and others, the flamenco tango has its rhythmic origins most likely in west Africa. Research points to early 18th century Santiago de Cuba as the probable starting point for variations of the original west African rhythm that lead to the creation of an Afro-Cuban style of music called the "tango Congo." This rhythm spread quickly throughout the Americans and Europe, and in Cádiz, Spain, musicians varied this rhythm in the early 1900s to create the pre-flamenco tanguillos. (You may remember a Zapateado video I posted recently where I mention this rhythm). The tanguillo was then "flamenco-ized" into the tientos which was later varied to create the flamenco tangos. Here is one of my favorite instrumental versions of a flamenco tango which includes a Cuban trés (Raul Rodriguez). It's easy to hear the Cuban influence of the tango-Congo in the flamenco tango with the inclusion of the trés.
Vals No 7. Composed by Frederic Chopin (1810-1849, Poland) and perfomred by Irina Kulikova.
Chopin was an accomplished pianist and composer who wrote music primarily for piano. That said, many of his pieces have been transcribed for multiple instruments with wonderful results. Vals No. 7 is the second work of Chopin's Opus 64 and the companion to the Minute Waltz (Op. 64, No. 1).
*Special thanks to my student Matt for reminding me of this amazing and inspirational performance.
© 2021 Sonanta LLC & Diego Alonso Audette Aste
(+1) 312-217-3937