Juan D'Arienzo

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Juan D'Arienzo · Juan d'Arienzo was an Argentine tango musician, violinist, orchestra leader and composer. He was born in 1900, the son of Italian immigrants, and died in 1976. His first notable performance was in 1919 at the Nacional theatre in Buenos Aires, during a comic play. Later he took Osvaldo Fresedo's place in a cabaret. There he was given the nickname El Rey del Compás, the king of the beat, by Príncipe Cubano.

Music and breakthrough

D'Arienzo began with traditional tango, but played increasingly modern arrangements. In 1935 he renewed the Argentine tango by stressing both the first and the third beat in four-four time. The result sounds rhythmic and staccato, with a great deal of energy. He himself said that tango consists of three things: rhythm, impact and nuances, and that an orchestra above all had to have life. His orchestra existed for more than fifty years. He recorded more than a thousand tangos, milongas and fast waltzes, often with one of the many singers who worked with him, including Alberto Echagüe and Héctor Mauré. He also appeared in a number of films.

Influence

His recordings remain important for dancers. In the milongas of Buenos Aires his music is still played a great deal, precisely because of its firm, danceable rhythm. In this way he remained one of the defining names in the history of the tango.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• ?El vals de los quince años
• ?El vals de los quinze