Editorial
With this issue, we begin our third year of publication. That means that we have been
working on this project for four years. The first year was research, planning and de-
sign. This third year is the magic year for a magazine. This is the year during which we
should break-even. The pattern is pretty much set. It is a question of whether or not
there is a market for the magazine. So far, we broke even during one monh in 2016.
Every other month has taken us further in debt. It certainly has been a struggle.
But, I am hopeful. This year has brought us quite few new subscribers, and the com-
munity has definitely come to know who we are and what we do. We still need more
advertisers and subscribers. But, until we find some major sponsors, it remain difficult
to carry on. Since we are an international publication, it is impossible for us to receive
national subsidies or grants. It will take a person or organization with an international
vision of the arts. So, if you have any ideas or know of anyone that qualifies, please
contact us.
We have long wanted to produce a special edition of MTW dedicated to tango in
Rome. After a bit of cajoling, we convinced one of Europe’s most popular DJs, Elio
Astor, to be the editor of this issue.
He began studying tango in 2003, and has been a tango dj, working at the console for
more than 5,000 hours. During these years, he has played music at tango festivals,
milongas and encuentros in Europe and also in Buenos Aires. In Buenos Aires, he has
DJ’d at Club Fulgor, Nino Bien and the famous Salon Canning.
At one of the traditional evenings, he was very surprised when he put a mixed tanda
from Orquesta Fervor de Buenos Aires in al estilo de Carlos di Sarli, only a few tradi-
tional dancers came to the dancefloor. After some weeks, he played the same tanda,
with the addition of hiss and other sound effects simulating vinyl deterioration. It made
it sound like an old vinyl recording. He then played this tanda at the same milonga.
They danced happily.
As a result, Elio decided to spend his time looking at the possibilities of tango danced
to modern music. In 2008, he was the first one, in Italy, to make a milonga with 100%
modern music in 2016, he introduced the playing of a hang drum in a milonga. Most
recently, he began focusing on music production. Elio believes in a global tango music
renaissance made by musicians and the new tango orchestras, Along with experienced
DJs and open minded dance instructors, a golden age modern tango music will sup-
plant the retro-vintage one.
We at Modern Tango World strongly agree.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
[email protected]
Cover photo by Ariadna Tepper
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