"Adios Muchachos" is a song about a dance from Argentina called the tango. The tango is
a ballroom dance in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrants in the late 1800s. The tango is danced with a partner. In Argentina, everybody does the tango!
Traditionally, a tango is played by a sextet (a group of six musicians) called an Orquesta tipica. This group includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons (member of the concertina family).
Locate Argentina on a map of South America. Locate the capital city of Argentina: Buenos Aires.
Echo-speak the Spanish words in the song for correct pronunciation.
Adios muchachos: ah-dyos moo-cha-chos. This means "Goodbye, good friends."
Muy guapo: mwee gwah-poh. This means "very handsome."
As you listen to the song, keep the beat on your lap. When the da section is sung, volunteers may stand up and move around the room to the steady beat, using these tango posture reminders.
Head is held high. Spine is straight. Shoulders are back.
Bend the knees slightly in order to move smoothly throughout the room.
Echo-sing the melody of the song, phrase by phrase.
Sing the entire melody together with the recording.
Echo-sing the harmony of the song, phrase by phrase. Concentrate on singing correct repeated notes and half steps.
Adios muchachos, I am off to Buenos Aires, in Argentina, to dance the tango.
Adios, muchachos, you will soon hear many stories about my tango, in Argentina.
Some phrases of the Da section are sung in harmony.
Goodbye now, my friends adios now
Practice singing the melody and harmony together, using a piano to assist with pitches, as needed. When comfortable, sing with the recording.
A Castanet ostinato can be played during the da section of the song. Echo-pat the rhythm as you listen to the castanet in the recording: Quarter Rest, Quarter Rest, Quarter Rest, Eighth Rest-Triplet Sixteenth notes. Quarter note, Quarter note, Quarter note, Eighth note-Triplet Sixteenth notes. (If no castanets are available, play this rhythm on woodblocks with two mallets.)
During the instrumental dance break, volunteers are encouraged to practice basic tango steps with a partner. Decide who will be the leading partner and who will be the following partner. For this beginning tango experience, partners will face each other without touching.
Leading partner: Forward with your left foot, then right foot, then left foot. Step to the right with your right foot. Then, place your feet together by moving your left foot to meet your right foot. Repeat.
Following partner: Backward with your right foot, the left foot, then right foot. Step to the left with your left foot. Then, place your feet together by moving your right foot to meet your left foot. Repeat.
Perform by singing the melody and harmony together, while the castanets perform a rhythmic ostinato and beginning tango volunteers dance.
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