Rodolfo Biagi

Rodolfo Alberto Biagi (Biaggi) (born March 14, 1906 in Buenos Aires ; † September 24, 1969 ibid), called "Manos Brujas" , was an Argentine musician ( pianist ), arranger , band leader and composer of tango .

Life

Rodolfo Biagi was born on March 14, 1906 in Buenos Aires in the working-class district of San Telmo . The family with a migration background lived in modest circumstances and had no relation to music. However, his father wanted the son to have a better future, which is why he made the desired visit to the La Prensa Conservatory possible. According to his father's condition, he began to study the violin , but switched to the piano on the advice of his teacher, who recognized his true inclination . He advanced his skills at the Conservatory of the Anglican Church . On the side, at the age of 13, he secretly played the piano in the silent movie theater near him (as Horacio Salgán had also done) in order to earn a little money. Juan Maglio , known as “Pacho”, discovered him there two years later for his orchestra. So he began to appear in tango bars and dance halls, including the Café El Nacional, the ultimate tango temple.

Biagi left Maglio after a while and joined Miguel Orlando, who played at Cabaret Maipú Pigall. There, in turn, he met the grand master of tango singing, Carlos Gardel . In 1927 he recorded over a period of several months with the well-known interpreter and composer and his accompanying musicians for the record company Odeon records. Thereafter Biagi was part of the sextet of the bandoneonist Juan Bautista Guido . This was mainly dedicated to silent film accompaniment, which Biagi no longer satisfied because the audience was fixated on what was happening on the screen and only perceived the music alongside. That is why he rejoined an orchestra in 1931. As the pianist of the Juan Canaro Orchestra, he played in radio-broadcast dance events and completed a successful tour of Brazil.

After serving as a substitute for Juan D'Arienzo , the band leader signed him up in December 1935. In the three years up to June 1938, D'Arienzo allowed him to develop his own style, which was actually accepted by the public. With his own newly founded orchestra Rodolfo Biaggi y su Orquesta Típica , he made his debut on September 16, 1938 in the Maribú, which had opened in 1935 and advanced to the ranks of the most popular tango bars. He also played with the orchestra for the regular tango broadcasts on the major radio stations Radio Belgrano and Radio Splendid. He gave his last concert on August 2nd, 1969. He died on September 24th of the same year in his hometown.

style

Rodolfo Biagi is often forgotten or only mentioned in passing when it comes to highlighting those who have made a difference. He played a very important role in the history of tango, especially with regard to the renaissance of dance, which became known as the " Golden Age of Tango ".

Around 1915 the rhythm of tango had changed from 2/4 to 4/8 time , making it quieter and slower, and thus more expressive and above all "romantic" - just right for devout listeners. This was not ideal for those willing to dance. Biagi reintroduced 2/4 time. The peculiarity that made Biagi a unique and easily identifiable performer was this constant and precise rhythm that gave the dancers a guideline. Through short, lashing arpeggios and dense chords , his instrument gained presence and set the tone. Staccato-like and faster than the other orchestras, monotonous and - musically speaking - reduced to the most elementary, Biagi's orchestra provided the dancers with the panache. Tango regained its former cheerfulness. Biagi's 2/4 rhythm became the fashion rhythm. For his virtuosity Biagi was nicknamed "Manos brujas" (German: "witch hands"). Not only was he a great performer arranging music for other writers, but he was also a composer of enduring pieces.

Compositions (selection)

Gólgota
Humillación
Indiferencia
Magdala
Por tener un corazón
Tu promesa
Campo afuera
Amor y Vals

Discography

Records (selection)

Rodolfo Biaggi y su Orquesta Típica

Manos brujas (Mexico, Capitol, 1957)
Rodolfo Biagi y Jorge Ortiz (1959, Colombia, Odeon, with the singer Jorge Ortiz )
El inconfudible estilo de Rodolfo Biagi (Argentina, CBS, 1966)
La Novena (Argentina, Odeon, 1968)
Lágrimas y sonrisas (Argentina, EMI, 1974)
Estrella (Argentina, Music Hall, 1974)
Canción de rango (Argentina, EMI, 1975)
Los más grandes éxitos de Rodolfo Biagi (Argentina, CBS, 1975)
Los indispensables de Biagi (Argentina, EMI, 1976)
Sosiego en la noche (Argentina, EMI, 1977)
Más éxitos de Manos Brujas (Uruguay, Odeon, 1979)
Rodolfo Biagi y Jorge Ortiz (Argentina, EMI, 1980)

Compact cassettes

Estrella (Argentina, Music Hall, 1990)

CDs

Campo afuera (1926–1942) (Spain, Bandoneón, 1992)
Sus exitos con Jorge Ortiz (Argentina, EMI, 1998)
Su Orquestra y sus cantores (Argentina, EMI, 2003)

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Alberto Paz, Valorie Hart: Rudolfo Biagi. In: planet-tango.com. May 12, 2006, accessed on August 25, 2019 (English, text-only page, metadata determined).
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Carlos Álvarez: Biagi - Entrevista a Rodolfo Biagi en 1960. In: todotango.com. Retrieved August 25, 2019 (Spanish).
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Rodolfo Biagi (1906–1969). In: tacchisolitari.altervista.org. January 20, 2017, accessed August 25, 2019 (Italian).
^ Egon Ludwig: Tango Lexicon. The tango ríoplatense - facts and figures of the famous Latin American dance . Lexikon Imprint Verlag, Berlin 2002, ISBN 3-89602-294-6 , Biaggi (Biagi), Rodolfo Alberto "Manos Brujas", p. 76 .
↑ Gabriel Plaza: El Marabú, la cuna del tango que aún mantiene el brillo intacto. For símbolo de la época de oro del 2x4, donde debutó la orquesta de Troilo, y templo rockero en los inicios de Soda Stereo en los ochenta; sobrevivió y sigue abierto. In: lanacion.com.ar. July 17, 2018, accessed August 25, 2019 (Spanish).
↑ Nicole Nau Klapwijk: Tango. Dimensions . 2nd edition, increased and improved. Kastell Verlag, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-924592-65-9 , Epochs of Music. 1917-1924; From the end of Guardia Vieja to Tango Canción, p. 57 .
^ Arne Birkenstock , Helena Rüegg : Tango. History and stories . With black and white images and service part (= dtv Premium ). New edition edition. Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-423-24273-6 , Golden Times - The blossom of the Salontango, p. 164 .
↑ Horacio Salas: The Tango . 1st edition. Butterfly Verlag, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-89657-604-6 , In the Milongas of the forties, p. 293 (also: Abrazos Books, ISBN 3-9807383-1-0 ).

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Biagi, Rodolfo
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Biagi, Rodolfo Alberto; Biaggi, Rodolfo Alberto
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Argentine tango musician and composer
DATE OF BIRTH	March 14, 1906
PLACE OF BIRTH	Buenos Aires
DATE OF DEATH	September 24, 1969
Place of death	Buenos Aires

[Paz-1] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Alberto Paz, Valorie Hart: Rudolfo Biagi. In: planet-tango.com. May 12, 2006, accessed on August 25, 2019 (English, text-only page, metadata determined).

[Alvarez-2] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Carlos Álvarez: Biagi - Entrevista a Rodolfo Biagi en 1960. In: todotango.com. Retrieved August 25, 2019 (Spanish).

[Tacchisolitari-3] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Rodolfo Biagi (1906–1969). In: tacchisolitari.altervista.org. January 20, 2017, accessed August 25, 2019 (Italian).

[4] Egon Ludwig: Tango Lexicon. The tango ríoplatense - facts and figures of the famous Latin American dance . Lexikon Imprint Verlag, Berlin 2002, ISBN 3-89602-294-6 , Biaggi (Biagi), Rodolfo Alberto "Manos Brujas", p. 76 .

[5] Gabriel Plaza: El Marabú, la cuna del tango que aún mantiene el brillo intacto. For símbolo de la época de oro del 2x4, donde debutó la orquesta de Troilo, y templo rockero en los inicios de Soda Stereo en los ochenta; sobrevivió y sigue abierto. In: lanacion.com.ar. July 17, 2018, accessed August 25, 2019 (Spanish).

[6] Nicole Nau Klapwijk: Tango. Dimensions . 2nd edition, increased and improved. Kastell Verlag, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-924592-65-9 , Epochs of Music. 1917-1924; From the end of Guardia Vieja to Tango Canción, p. 57 .

[7] Arne Birkenstock , Helena Rüegg : Tango. History and stories . With black and white images and service part (= dtv Premium ). New edition edition. Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-423-24273-6 , Golden Times - The blossom of the Salontango, p. 164 .

[8] Horacio Salas: The Tango . 1st edition. Butterfly Verlag, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-89657-604-6 , In the Milongas of the forties, p. 293 (also: Abrazos Books, ISBN 3-9807383-1-0 ).