|
Track List Gota de Aire (3:51) – Emmanuel Trifilio (1917) Boca de Fresa (3:09)– Emmanuel Trifilio (2021) Diciembre en Buenos Aires (3:23) – Mauricio Marcelli (1999) El Eco de tu Amor (4:32) – Emmanuel Trifilio (2021 Aspiration (2:14) – Ali Cook (2020) Milonga para Zoe (2:54) – Emmanuel Trifilio (2021) El Último Abrazo (3:26) – Emmanuel Trifilio (2020) Glen Echo (3:37) – Emmanuel Trifilio (2015) Milonga del Angel (6:59) – Astor Piazzolla (1965) Peregrina (4:37) – Ricardo Palmerín, arr Ali Cook (1923) La Cumparsita (4:28) – Gerardo Matos Rodriguez (1916) |
Credits
Recorded, edited, mixed by Gantt Kushner Mastered by Greg Lukens Graphic design by Jorge Kruger Production by Joan Singer Recorded January, 2020; October 2021 at Gantt Kushner studio, Silver Spring MD |
A DEDICATION TO OUR VALUED FANS & FRIENDS
These tangos were inspired by lost loves, paroled poets, a magical Mexican tour, a vintage carousel, a four-year old’s giggle, a timeless Midwestern romance, and the community of family, fans and friends who supported us throughout the pandemic and who continue to be the beating heart of QuinTango’s world. This CD is for you.
|
|
|
BEHIND THE SCENES OF OBSESIÓN
Gota de Aire (2017) was written by Emmanuel Trifilio for his Trifilio Tango Trio. It has been a favorite of our audiences since he arranged it for QuinTango.
Boca de Fresa (2021) was commissioned by Al Hester for his partner of many years, the effervescent, ever-inquisitive and charming Teresa Kane, a singer who began her journey in El Salvador, but found her true love in Minnesota. We love this couple!
Diciembre en Buenos Aires (1999) was composed by QuinTango’s longtime friend and arranger, Mauricio Marcelli. Maestro Marcelli was a member of Osvaldo Pugliese’s orchestra as well as the opera orchestra at the Teatro Colon. He created a dozen great tango arrangements for QuinTango: A Evaristo Carriego, Triunfal, Chau Paris, El Andariego, Azabache, Inspiración, Romance de Barrio, Tema Otoñal, La Rayuela, La Última Cita; and his own compositions, Piedra Libre and Diciembre en Buenos Aires (on this album).
El Eco de tu Amor is linked to a beautiful story sent to composer Emmanuel Trifilio by the remarkable woman who commissioned this piece, Christina Johnson. I cannot play this piece without tearing up.
Boca de Fresa (2021) was commissioned by Al Hester for his partner of many years, the effervescent, ever-inquisitive and charming Teresa Kane, a singer who began her journey in El Salvador, but found her true love in Minnesota. We love this couple!
Diciembre en Buenos Aires (1999) was composed by QuinTango’s longtime friend and arranger, Mauricio Marcelli. Maestro Marcelli was a member of Osvaldo Pugliese’s orchestra as well as the opera orchestra at the Teatro Colon. He created a dozen great tango arrangements for QuinTango: A Evaristo Carriego, Triunfal, Chau Paris, El Andariego, Azabache, Inspiración, Romance de Barrio, Tema Otoñal, La Rayuela, La Última Cita; and his own compositions, Piedra Libre and Diciembre en Buenos Aires (on this album).
El Eco de tu Amor is linked to a beautiful story sent to composer Emmanuel Trifilio by the remarkable woman who commissioned this piece, Christina Johnson. I cannot play this piece without tearing up.
The Winter Cowboy
There was not a word from him, the winter cowboy
the one who wrapped me in blankets when we rode in from the storm.
I was frozen and bruised and he gave me shelter.
All winter we warmed our skin by the firelight of campfires
Our horses blew the steam of their breath into the cold night
Inside our canvas home, we glowed with love and pleasure.
It is him, I thought, he is my sunrise and my sunset.
I burned warm like a diamond
Two years of seasons in the high desert of the heart
He was quiet, the snow was melting, the first red paintbrush flowers emerging
one day he said I don't want to see you anymore.
The new foal was born, things are hard, don't try to call me.
I saddled my sorrel horse. I took off running. We galloped to the edge of the precipice and we
jumped to try to reach the other side.
My heart ripped open like a canyon filled with blood and sun
Between the walls of my heart the echo of love hit from one side to the other
the black birds of the rocks flew by us as we were in midair
The sun was hot pink glowing at the mouth of the canyon,
I lost myself. I did not know if the sun was beginning or ending the day,
You might wonder if my horse and I landed on the other side.
I'd like to think we did, but it is too soon to tell.
There was not a word from him, the winter cowboy
the one who wrapped me in blankets when we rode in from the storm.
I was frozen and bruised and he gave me shelter.
All winter we warmed our skin by the firelight of campfires
Our horses blew the steam of their breath into the cold night
Inside our canvas home, we glowed with love and pleasure.
It is him, I thought, he is my sunrise and my sunset.
I burned warm like a diamond
Two years of seasons in the high desert of the heart
He was quiet, the snow was melting, the first red paintbrush flowers emerging
one day he said I don't want to see you anymore.
The new foal was born, things are hard, don't try to call me.
I saddled my sorrel horse. I took off running. We galloped to the edge of the precipice and we
jumped to try to reach the other side.
My heart ripped open like a canyon filled with blood and sun
Between the walls of my heart the echo of love hit from one side to the other
the black birds of the rocks flew by us as we were in midair
The sun was hot pink glowing at the mouth of the canyon,
I lost myself. I did not know if the sun was beginning or ending the day,
You might wonder if my horse and I landed on the other side.
I'd like to think we did, but it is too soon to tell.
Aspiration (2020) was written by Ali Cook, our bass player. For years QuinTango partnered with Guest House, a home for female ex-offenders paroled in Alexandria, by providing dance lessons for the residents. COVID intervened, so we needed a new way to collaborate. We discovered the poetry workshops sponsored by HEARD and found this inspiring poem written by six of the women at Guest House.
|
ASPIRATION
Hunter, Carly, Stephanie, Megan, Kelly, Heather, Friends of Guest House, July 23, 2020 May you never
let anyone dull your light. May your mind be at ease Clear from distractions that used to ground you. May you allow yourself to humble. May you listen to your longing And fight to give yourself what you covet. May you know that Love is alive in you. |
Milonga para Zoë (2021) During the initial reading of this piece, Zoë, the adorable 4-year old of our pianist, came into the rehearsal room singing the melody at top voice. Ever after, we referred to this music as “Zoe’s Milonga” – and eventually the name was officially changed. We couldn’t resist letting you hear Zoe as she first sounded singing the theme – and then giggling as she heard us rehearse.
El Último Abrazo (2020) was commissioned by Kathleen Millard, a beautiful tango dancer we met on tour in Mexico in 2020. As she and Emmanuel were talking about what kind of tango she wanted, her mother entered the final phase of her life. Her passing is memorialized in the title – The Last Embrace.
Glen Echo (2015) was originally composed for the Trifilio Tango Trio. Not long after moving to D.C., Emmanuel visited the park. The antique carrousel triggered a nostalgia for Argentina and the carrousels of his youth, a feeling he so perfectly captured in this lovely waltz. During the early days of the pandemic when QuinTango was trying to figure out how to play together while quarantined in our own homes, we made our first music video using this track. It’s still a favorite; you can find it on this page.
Milonga del Angel (1965) was a piece our fans often asked us to record, but it was not suited to our instrumentation. When Emmanuel and his bandoneon joined QuinTango in 2019 it became a possibility. He re-imagined the guitar part for our cellist; the rest remains as Piazzolla wrote it.
Peregrina (1923) is a haunting Yucatecan trova that Ali Cook arranged for our 2020 tour of Yucatan. In Mexico we discovered the tragic story of Alma Reed, the woman for whom the ballad was written. Back home in the midst of the pandemic, we made our second music video, bilingual this time, because we were obsessed with this story. Truly it was waiting to be a tango. Thanks to Diane Hounsell and Michael Schuessler for their invaluable help on the video.
El Último Abrazo (2020) was commissioned by Kathleen Millard, a beautiful tango dancer we met on tour in Mexico in 2020. As she and Emmanuel were talking about what kind of tango she wanted, her mother entered the final phase of her life. Her passing is memorialized in the title – The Last Embrace.
Glen Echo (2015) was originally composed for the Trifilio Tango Trio. Not long after moving to D.C., Emmanuel visited the park. The antique carrousel triggered a nostalgia for Argentina and the carrousels of his youth, a feeling he so perfectly captured in this lovely waltz. During the early days of the pandemic when QuinTango was trying to figure out how to play together while quarantined in our own homes, we made our first music video using this track. It’s still a favorite; you can find it on this page.
Milonga del Angel (1965) was a piece our fans often asked us to record, but it was not suited to our instrumentation. When Emmanuel and his bandoneon joined QuinTango in 2019 it became a possibility. He re-imagined the guitar part for our cellist; the rest remains as Piazzolla wrote it.
Peregrina (1923) is a haunting Yucatecan trova that Ali Cook arranged for our 2020 tour of Yucatan. In Mexico we discovered the tragic story of Alma Reed, the woman for whom the ballad was written. Back home in the midst of the pandemic, we made our second music video, bilingual this time, because we were obsessed with this story. Truly it was waiting to be a tango. Thanks to Diane Hounsell and Michael Schuessler for their invaluable help on the video.
PEREGRINA
lyrics by Luis Rosado Vega (1922)
Peregrina de ojos claros y divinos
Y mejillas encendidas de arrebol
Mujercita de los labios purpurinos
Y radiante cabellera como el sol
…..
Cuando dejes mis palmarés y mi tierra,
Peregrina del semblante encantador,
No te olvides, no te olvides de mi tierra,
No te olvides, no te olivdes de mi amor.
lyrics by Luis Rosado Vega (1922)
Peregrina de ojos claros y divinos
Y mejillas encendidas de arrebol
Mujercita de los labios purpurinos
Y radiante cabellera como el sol
…..
Cuando dejes mis palmarés y mi tierra,
Peregrina del semblante encantador,
No te olvides, no te olvides de mi tierra,
No te olvides, no te olivdes de mi amor.
La Cumparsita (1916) has been in QuinTango’s repertoire for twenty years; however, our arrangement was purchased at a music store in Buenos Aires – not the most original. When Maestro Trifilio added his own touch to this most famous Uruguayan tango, it became a vehicle for our virtuoso players and a tip of the hat to all the great Cumparsita arrangements of the past.
-- Joan Singer, Founder & Violinist