What do you think?
Rate this book
Tango Stories: Musical Secrets
Please note : this book now has a 2nd edition . The new ISBN is 978-0-9573276-4-1 (Amazon This is the 1st edition. This listing only remains so that you can read the reviews.
In this unique book, Michael Lavocah takes you on a compelling journey through tango music. He introduces the key individuals who shaped tango history, telling their stories in a series of lively vignettes.Engaging, entertaining and passionate, this is the definitive English language guide to tango dance music. Packed with information that you just won't find anywhere else, Tango Musical Secrets is essential reading for anyone who would like to understand tango better.
In this unique book, Michael Lavocah takes you on a compelling journey through tango music. He introduces the key individuals who shaped tango history, telling their stories in a series of lively vignettes.Engaging, entertaining and passionate, this is the definitive English language guide to tango dance music. Packed with information that you just won't find anywhere else, Tango Musical Secrets is essential reading for anyone who would like to understand tango better.
- GenresHistory
225 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
6 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 24, 2024
A great overview of the best tango music for dancing, peppered with stories about the different important figures. The author isn't always objective in his thoughts about the different artists, but that is to be expected (and respected). I look forward to reading the other books as well.
October 7, 2015
Reading this book feels like sitting next to a music geek who has spread all his vinyl out across the floor to show you his collection and he keeps shaking your arm with wide eyes each time he picks one up, “OH! And this one--THIS ONE--you won’t believe how amazing it sounds, and just listen to this part…”
This guy is so enthusiastic about tango music and history that sometimes I think he must have worked himself up into hyperventilating or pausing to wipe tears from his eyes as he wrote. And I kind of love him for that! The joy is contagious.
You can easily listen to almost everything he's talking about by accessing the youtube and Spotify playlists conveniently noted in the margins (or at tangomusicsecrets.com).
This guy is so enthusiastic about tango music and history that sometimes I think he must have worked himself up into hyperventilating or pausing to wipe tears from his eyes as he wrote. And I kind of love him for that! The joy is contagious.
You can easily listen to almost everything he's talking about by accessing the youtube and Spotify playlists conveniently noted in the margins (or at tangomusicsecrets.com).
Read
September 30, 2012I just started this, so the full review will follow. So far, it is an engagingly written, and passionately felt, tour of the great tango orchestras starting with d'Arienzo's. I like the playlists that Lavocah includes, which allow you to look up the songs he is writing about. I also like the stories about the personalities and the events that shaped the music's evolution, for instance: that Biagi (who was Canaro's pianist for a while) let loose one day when playing with Canaro's orchestra when Canaro was late for a rehearsal and he finally had the chance to play "9 de Julio" the way he wanted - and that from then on the people loved him so much that Canaro was forced to adapt to his rhythmic, aggressive style ... until finally, Biagi's star power ignited Canaro's jealousy and he was fired. These little details make the story seem personal, credible, and very, very human. I'm looking forward to the rest of this book and will conclude my review when I finish it.
July 23, 2016
Wonderful overview of "Golden Era" tango music with a spotify music list to listen along to the songs with! Some 19-teens to 1920s music covered quickly in one of the chapters. Last chapter of personal stories about the tango artists is truly crazy interesting, too.
May 22, 2017
Excellent book with emphasis on the music and major orchestras /composers of the golden era. Also a great resource for pointing out the important songs. As a non-musician it was very helpful to me. Part of my re-reading and documenting my tango biblio collection.
December 8, 2014
technically, I've finished this book, but I suspect that I'll be returning to this constantly.
The authors emphasis is primarily on the "Golden Age" of Tango music (late 1930's to the 40's), speaking on the noted orchestras of that era, including a recommended discography of available music.
Outside of the todotango website, This is a great primer for anyone interested in tango music; just enough of a taste to set you off exploring for more music.
The authors emphasis is primarily on the "Golden Age" of Tango music (late 1930's to the 40's), speaking on the noted orchestras of that era, including a recommended discography of available music.
Outside of the todotango website, This is a great primer for anyone interested in tango music; just enough of a taste to set you off exploring for more music.
December 10, 2012
A very good guide to tango music and orchestras, for both amateur and advanced dancers, who want to know what they are dancing to.
October 11, 2014
A must read for all tangueras and tangueros.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews