An icon in world music, Argentinian guest artist Rodolfo Mederos will be coming here to take Filipinos on a musical journey to his native Buenos Aires.
Revered by local tangueros, people passionate about Argentine tango dance, music and song, Mederos has touched people’s hearts with his bandoneon or button accordion, the representative instrument of the tango.
He will perform with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra on April 24 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
“The bandoneon is the soul of life,” said Mederos in a documentary shown in a tango soirée, hosted by tango patroness Nina Halley at her residence.
Former Philippine Ambassador to Argentina Rey Carandang explained the bandoneon was developed in Germany for religious and populist music. German immigrants brought this instrument, which sounds like a harmonica and a ccordion, to Argentina and ended up in the underworld where tango evolved. Although tango has a marked sense of rhythm without percussion, the bandoneon provides the pulse.
“Mederos likes to experiment with rhythms and sounds, going from traditional to new tendencies,” said Argentinian Ambassador Roberto Bosch.
“The bandoneon sings in his hands,” added Carandang.
Architect/tanguera Popi Laudico, who learned tango in Buenos Aires explained: “When you go to a milonga [a place for tango dancing], everybody, from a bus driver or waitress to professor and socialite, is transformed into a milongero [tango habitué]. An heiress can dance with a market vendor and nobody cares. Tango is a great equalizer. Mederos draws that perspective into his music. In tango, the man will express his sentiments and lead his partner. She will just follow. Similarly, when Mederos plays, it’s as if his music is the man and he’s telling you, ‘Dance with me.’ Nobody in this generation can play the tango music that’s not just for listening but for experiencing.”
Carandang recalled that tango music was often played on radios in the Philippines even before World War II. Every Filipino can recognize the tunes of “La Cumpansita” or “El Choclo,” which have become synonymous with tango music. These are often played in programs and movies.
For Carandang, Mederos’ concert will expose Filipinos to tango music at its finest. For the new Argentinian ambassador, a cultural exchange, especially on a high level as this, is a friendlier and softer approach to enhance international relations.
“Our foreign ministries sign agreements and number them, but the effect of those are limited. Little is known about the Philippines in Argentina and we are known for beef, wine and tango. It’s good for the Filipinos to appreciate our artistic expression. I hope to bring as much in the future,” said Bosch.”