Konrad Test Blog: Francisco Canaro - Fast / Late Milongas

Orchestras: Francisco Canaro, Quinteto Pirincho

Singers: Ernesto Famá, Carlos Roldan, Instrumental

Period: 1938-1947

As time was passing by, the milongas of Canaro became faster and faster. In the period between 1932-1937 the speed was ranging from 76 to 90 bpm. 76 is rather slow (e.g. Milonga Sentimental), 90 starts to be reasonably fast (e.g. Milonga de Antańo). Suddenly in 1938 songs speed up and in later period they range from 96 bpm to 116 bpm (116 is a really fast milonga - e.g. Requebrada).

Personally as a dancer, from the later period I like the most songs recorded in 1938 and 1939. You will find between them "hits" like: Reliquias Porteñas, La Milonga de Buenos Aires, No Hay Tierra Como La Mía and many others... As in case of many other orchestras something changed at the beginning of 1940ies. The later milongas are less enjoyable and more difficult to dance.

DJ comment:

As written above, the milongas from later period are very fast. For that reason they might be not appreciated by some less experienced dancers. Milongas sung by Carlos Roldan are very good, playful but not very easy. Quite many times I have seen dancers (even pretty advanced ones) leaving the dance floor in the middle of tanda.

So you'll probably need to be a bit more careful while playing the later milongas of Canaro, but still they should be in repertoire of each DJ. There are lots of great songs to choose from.