Alma del Tango, a Marin County nonprofit based in San Anselmo, is pleased to announce that Seth Asarnow y Su Sexteto Tipico has come under the organization’s auspices. A Marin native and resident, Asarnow is considered one of the best bandoneon players in the country, and his sextet is frequently seen and heard playing at tango venues throughout the Bay Area. “I consider myself a tango musician, not just a musician who plays tango,” he says.
Keeping the Golden Age of Tango Alive
Asarnow endeavors to reproduce the sound and style of tango orchestras that were popular during the Golden Age of Tango -- the 1930’s to 1950’s. “These days very few musicians have the ability or desire to play in this style,” he says. “I’m trying to preserve an amazing style of music in its original form.”
After seeing the show Tango Argentino in 1986, Asarnow was drawn to the bandoneon and its soulful, melancholic sound. The bandoneon, a type of large concertina, was developed in Germany and brought to Argentina by emigrants at the turn of 20th Century where it became the essential instrument in tango ensembles. He describes the instrument as unusual, with many quirky features that give the bandoneon a very distinct and endearing personality. “Those qualities, along with its mournful, evocative sound are what make it so captivating,” the maestro explains.
Asarnow is happy to be associated with and support the other groups under the Alma del Tango umbrella. His goal is to raise funds to expand the sextet to an Orquesta Tipica which usually has 10-12 musicians including a string section, three or more bandoneons, piano and bass.
“I’m excited to have Seth and his Sexteto as part of Alma del Tango,” says board president Debbie Goodwin. “Music drives the dance, and live music takes the experience to a whole new level.”
For more information visit www.almadeltango.org
