Enrique Maciel (July 13, 1897 – January 24, 1962[1]) 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.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Enrique_Maciel_1001.jpg/170px-Enrique_Maciel_1001.jpg)
Life and work
editBorn to an Afro-Argentine family (most likely a descendant of West African peoples) in Buenos Aires, in 1897, Maciel received his early musical instruction in a local parochial school, and his first professional performance was in 1915.[citation needed] His first tango, "Presentación," remains unpublished.[citation needed] He joined small groups acting in houses and dance halls, touring the provinces. Among his peers, he was closest to bandoneonist Ángel Danesi.[2]
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 Chilean 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).[2]
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.[3]
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.[2]
References
edit- ^ Ostuni, Ricardo A. (2000-09-01). Viaje al corazón del tango (in Spanish). Ediciones Lumière. p. 46. ISBN 9789509603271.
- ^ a b c Todo Tango:Enrique Maciel Archived 2013-10-22 at the Wayback Machine, Published in "Cuadernos de difusión del Tango", no 20
- ^ La Pulpera Archived 2009-08-15 at the Wayback Machine