| Milonga | |
|---|---|
 Milonga group inBuenos Aires | |
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | 19th century,Río de la Plata region |
| Typical instruments | |
| Derivative forms | |
| Subgenres | |
| Milonga candombe | |
| Fusion genres | |
| Tango milonga | |
| Other topics | |
Milonga is a musical genre that originated in theRío de la Plata areas ofArgentina,Uruguay, and the Brazilian state ofRio Grande do Sul.[2][3] It is considered a precursor of thetango, and may or may not be vocal.
"Milonga is an excitedhabanera." The original habanera divided into four pulses, in a standard two-four whereevery note was stressed. In becoming milonga, though, all four notes turned strong, as tempo was doubled. The strength of the first beat weakened the fourth giving an almost waltz-like feel to milonga: one-two-three (four), one-two-three (four).Habanera is a slower, more explicit soundingone, two,three-four. At least one modern tango pianist believes thepolka influenced the speeding up of the milonga.[4] According to milonga composer and one of the most famouspayadores of his time,Gabino Ezeiza, the milonga derives from various African rhythms such ascandombe, and Argentine milonga was particularly popular amongAfro-Argentines in Buenos Aires at the turn of the 20th century.[5][6]
Over time, dance steps and other musical influences were added, eventually contributing to the creation oftango.[7]
Artists known for their milonga compositions and interpretations includeRoberto Firpo,Angel D'Agostino,Pedro Maffia,Pedro Laurenz,Ángel Villoldo,Francisco Canaro,Rodolfo Biagi,Jorge Drexler,Juan d'Arienzo,Edgardo Donato,Gabino Ezeiza,Aníbal Troilo,Lucio Demare,Domingo Federico,Angel Vargas,Mariano Mores,Alfredo Zitarrosa,Francisco Lomuto,Astor Piazzolla andCarlos Di Sarli. These artists are from the early years and the Golden era of tango.Los Moonlights released a song entitled "Milonga de pelo largo" (Milonga of long hair) on their debut LP, Moonlights.
InRio Grande do Sul,milonga is an important regional genre and it is part of the repertoire of manygaucho musical groups and interpreters, not to be confused with the Argentinean gauchos. It also continues to influence other genres of the modern gaucho music.José Cláudio Machado's "Milonga Abaixo de Mau Tempo",Renato Borghetti's "Milonga para as Missões" andJayme Caetano Braun's "Bochincho" are examples of the traditionalrio-grandense form ofmilonga,[3] whileVitor Ramil's "Ramilonga" andBebeto Alves's "Milonga Orientao" are examples of modern form of this genre.[8]
Argentine composer and pianistFernando Otero has based many of his orchestral and chamber works on this rhythm,[9] creating compositions for Symphonic Orchestra, String Quartet and Jazz Combos.[10][11][12]
Kevin Johansen is a modern Argentine rock artist who has a number of songs that combine folkloric and pop music with a milonga rhythm.[8]