Enrique Maciel
Encyclopedia
Enrique Maciel was a versatile and sensitive composer
, lyricist
, and harmonium
, piano
, bandoneon
and guitar
performer. The latter is the instrument that identified him permanently in the memory of tango
listeners.
family (most likely a descendant of western african peoples) in Buenos Aires
, in 1897, Maciel received his early musical instruction in a local parochial school, and his first public performance was in 1915. His first tango, "Presentación," remains unpublished. He joined small groups acting in houses and dance halls, touring the provinces. Among his peers, he was closest to bandoneonist Ángel Danesi.
In 1920, in Bragado
, he met the poet Enrique Maroni and immediately released their collaboration with the tango "La tipa," leading to recording three years later by Rosita Quiroga. A year later, Maciel became a contractual guitarist with RCA-Victor, where he accompanied the Chile
an duo Glos-Balmaceda. There, he met José María Aguilar, with whom he made recordings in a guitar duo, accompanied by fellow RCA artists. Maciel's skill as a pianist earned him the tripling of an otherwise modest salary. His first new tango under this arrangement was "Grief" - performed by Osvaldo Fresedo
and Rosita Quiroga (on harmonium
).
In 1925, the pianist Carlos Geroni Flores presented Ignacio Corsini
to Maciel, who was incorporated into his popular group as a guitarist and pianist. Corsini's performances alongside Maciel continued until 1943, and their companions included José Aguilar
on guitar and Rosendo Weight; Aguilar left the set in 1928 and joined Armando Pagés.
The group became popular on Argentine radio, particularly on Radio Buenos Aires
. They gradually fell out of favor with listeners, however, and the group disbanded during the 1950s.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
, and harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, bandoneon
Bandoneón
The bandoneón is a type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina and Uruguay. It plays an essential role in the orquesta típica, the tango orchestra...
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
performer. The latter is the instrument that identified him permanently in the memory of tango
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
listeners.
Life and work
Born to an Afro ArgentineAfro Argentine
The black population resulting from the slave trade during the centuries of Spanish domination of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata had a major role in Argentine history...
family (most likely a descendant of western african peoples) in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, in 1897, Maciel received his early musical instruction in a local parochial school, and his first public performance was in 1915. His first tango, "Presentación," remains unpublished. He joined small groups acting in houses and dance halls, touring the provinces. Among his peers, he was closest to bandoneonist Ángel Danesi.
In 1920, in Bragado
Bragado
Bragado is a city in the center-northwest province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the head town of Bragado Partido. The city is 210 km west-southwest from Buenos Aires City, not far from the Salado River.-Etymology and Legend:...
, he met the poet Enrique Maroni and immediately released their collaboration with the tango "La tipa," leading to recording three years later by Rosita Quiroga. A year later, Maciel became a contractual guitarist with RCA-Victor, where he accompanied the Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an duo Glos-Balmaceda. There, he met José María Aguilar, with whom he made recordings in a guitar duo, accompanied by fellow RCA artists. Maciel's skill as a pianist earned him the tripling of an otherwise modest salary. His first new tango under this arrangement was "Grief" - performed by Osvaldo Fresedo
Osvaldo Fresedo
Osvaldo Fresedo , nicknamed El pibe de La Paternal was an Argentine songwriter and director of a tango orchestra. He had the longest recording career in tango, from 1925 to 1980.- Career :...
and Rosita Quiroga (on harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
).
In 1925, the pianist Carlos Geroni Flores presented Ignacio Corsini
Ignacio Corsini
Ignacio Corsini was a well-known Argentine folklore and tango vocalist.-Life and work:Andrés Ignacio Corsini was born in Troina, a village in the Enna Province of Sicily, in 1891. He was the illegitimate son of Socorro Salomone and a local man whose identity was never revealed publicly—save for...
to Maciel, who was incorporated into his popular group as a guitarist and pianist. Corsini's performances alongside Maciel continued until 1943, and their companions included José Aguilar
José Aguilar
For the Colombian road cyclist with the same name see José Aguilar José Aguilar Pulsar was a Cuban boxer...
on guitar and Rosendo Weight; Aguilar left the set in 1928 and joined Armando Pagés.
The group became popular on Argentine radio, particularly on Radio Buenos Aires
Radio Buenos Aires
Radio Buenos Aires is a Christian radio station in Buenos Aires, Argentina owned by Radiodifusora Esmeralda SA and operated by Iglesia Universal del Reino de Dios ....
. They gradually fell out of favor with listeners, however, and the group disbanded during the 1950s.