Miguel Caló - Virtual Class w/Makela 5/10/2020

Bandoneonist, leader and composer

(28 October 1907 - 24 May 1972)

Place of birth: Buenos Aires Argentina

Bandoneonist active with own orchestras since the 20s, and recordings since 1933. Associated with the 40s. He was part of groups with Francisco Pracánico and Osvaldo Fresedo. But he created his own style. He was formally trained

At the beginning his arrangements were discrete and correct. But when Argentino Galván (violinist) was incorporated in 1937 he added a characteristic melodic tone with either the piano, the bandoneon, or the violin who lead the melody.

The orchestra of Caló was the seed for many amazing musicians and orchestras. For instance Domingo Federico started his own orchestra (some of his well know compositions are Saludos, Percal, Al compás del corazón, Yuyo verde, Tristeza de la calle Corrientes)

Enrique Francini (violinist) and Armando Pontier  (bandoneonist) were other two musicians from Caló orchestra who became amazing orchestras.

The pianist Osmar Maderna also came from Miguel Calo orchestra.

Calo was also a composer with Osmar Maderna. Some of their compositions include: Jamás retornarás, Que te importa que te llore, Dos fracasos (lyrics by Homero Expósito), Cobrate y dame el vuelto (milonga)

Timeline

1927: Bandoneonist with Francisco Pracánico

1928: Created his first short living orchestra.

1929; Travelled to Spain with Cátulo Castillo and the Malerba brothers and Roberto Maida.

1931: Travelled to the US with Osvaldo Fresedo

1932: Recorded his first album with the label Splendid.

1934: Became an exclusive artist of Odeon label

1937: He called amazing artists Orlando Goñi, Osvaldo Pugliese, Armando Pontier, Domingo Federico, Leopoldo Federico, Astor Piazzolla, Osmar Maderna, Horacio Salgán among others.

1940 La orquesta de las estrellas

1939 Berón joins briefly before joining Lucio Demare. Caló brings him back by offering  $500 per month. 

Singers of Miguel Caló

Raul Berón - singer 1920-1982- beautiful and sophisticated voice with depth and sweet sadness. There was some darkeness in his voice that makes the understanding of the words difficult sometimes.

Alberto Podestá

Raúl Iriarte

Jorge Ortiz

Roberto Mancini

Song Endings

Like many bands, the Caló orchestra has a characteristic signature, a way of ending a piece, and in this case it comes from the hands of Osmar Maderna.

Caló uses the delayed ending that we also see in Pugliese and Tanturi, not Chan- Chan, but CHAN - (pause)-chan. In this case the second chord is given just to Maderna, who unleashes a small trill on the piano. Listen very closely, and you will hear him then play one further chord, very quietly at the end.

My favorite Caló’s danceable pieces

Tristeza de la calle Corrientes, 1942, Raúl Berón

Al compás del corazón, 1942, Raúl Berón

Que te importa que te llore, 1942, Raúl Berón

Lejos de Buenos Aires, 1942, Raúl Berón

Corazón no le hagas caso, 1942, Raúl Berón

Jamás retornarás, 1942, Raúl Berón

Cuatro Compases, 1942, Raúl Berón

Un crímen, 1942, Raúl Berón

Trasnochando, 1942, Raúl Berón

Margarita Gauthier, 1942, Raúl Berón

Marión, 1943, Raúl Iriarte

Gimme el viento, 1943, Raúl Iriarte

Nada, 1944, Raúl Iriarte

Después, 1944, Raúl Iriarte

La vi llegar, 1944, Raúl Iriarte

Mañana no estarás, 1945, Raúl Iriarte

Lluvia de abril, 1945, Raúl Iriarte

Trenzas, 1945, Raúl Iriarte

Los despojos, 1947, Raúl Iriarte

Rebeldía, 1947, Raúl Iriarte

Dos fracasos, 1943, Alberto Podestá

Percal, 1943, Alberto Podestá

Cada día te extraño más, 1943, Alberto Podestá

Si tú quisieras, 1943, Alberto Podestá

El bazar de los jueguetes, 1954, Alberto Podestá

Qué falta que me hacés, 1963, Alberto Podestá

Pa' que seguir, 1943, Jorge Ortiz

Sans Souci 1944 Inst

Saludos 1944 Inst

MILONGAS

Milonga que peina canas 1942 Raúl Berón

Azabache 1942 Raúl Berón

Milonga Antigua, 1942 Raúl Berón

VALSES

Bajo un cielo de estrellas, 1941, Alberto Podestá

Pedacito de cielo, 1942, Alberto Podestá

Vals soñador, 1942, Raúl Berón 

Me duele el corazón, 1944, Raúl Iriarte y los trovadores de Perú

Jugando, jugando, 1944, Raúl Berón

Flor de lino, 1946, Raúl Iriarte