ABOUT: "ARGENTINE TANGO #1"
The composition of the Argentine Tango #1 emanated from my practicing for the Memorial last March for my old friend who passed away. (RIP Friar). The Tango just came to me and I found a theme from playing around between practices. It was a process of development up till this last week where the Muse and I debated and fought over its finale. I had to shut her down and wrap this up. Through the process I developed each section as the ideas evolved. To a point I had to relearn a couple sections and their fingerings etc. I think the idea for tango and its rhythm came to me from learning the Habanera by Ferracin.
1. THE FORM (structure): AABAC
It is made of one principle section (A) comprising a back and forth thematic response between 2 taunting subthemes that renders out with a solo riff at the end by yours truly. This section (A) is used 3x through the piece.
It has a middle section (B) of my guitar solo.
The Finale (C) goes back and forth between D major and D minor with the slow mesmerizing harmonica floating far above the ostinato guitar letting the listener to just let it go. It was the great debate between my muse and my concepts of staying loyal to the dance. She won and I labored.
The finale creates more of a romantic dreamscape than a "hardened on the street" Tango. I digressed, for my Muse lured me here. I took it.
I hope you enjoy Richard J. Kain
2. NUTS AND BOLTS:
I used the Zoom 4k video recorder and a Zoom handheld audio recorder. I mic recorded the Guitar on the Shure SM81. While the harmonica was both used in an overdub and also while playing "mic'd up".
The post work on the audio I used Adobe Audition and also Audacity. For video all work was done inside Adobe Premiere 2026.
The Guitar was my first recording on my new guitar the Yamaha Red Label FGX3 acoustic electric guitar.
it is a little smaller guitar than my Guild and is enabling me to get back to classical guitar technique and with pieces to come.
