43/2025 Héctor Varela instrumental vals tanda - Valcesito criolla
Quality versions of classic Argentine valses and "Cielo y Luna"
Welcome to this week's tanda!
I've been thinking about posting a vocal tango tanda from Héctor Varela, but couldn't quite come up with one good enough just yet. Therefore I'll take the easy route this time and post a nice instrumental vals tanda. It's not what Varela is best known for, and although some of the songs in this tanda are from his perhaps more commercial period, these songs still work wonders on the dance floor.
Remember to check out more tandas by category or orchestra. There are already several Argentine vals tandas on tandaoftheweek.com.
A little about Héctor Varela
Héctor Varela was an orchestra leader, bandoneonist, composer and an arranger. Before starting his own orchestra in 1950, he was the lead bandoneonist and arranger for Juan D'Arienzo's orchestra. D'Arienzo also recorded a total of 20 of his compositions.
Varela's own orchestra started with overwhelming success with singers Armando Laborde and Rodolfo Lesica. Varela gained even more popularity after singer Argentino Ledesma joined the orchestra and recorded hits such as "Fueron tres años" and "Fumando espero".
Although gaining huge success and later going for a more commercial style, Varela's experience with D'Arienzo and commitment to making music for dancers shows, and there are several undeniably great tangos and valses in the Héctor Varela orchestra's discography.
Héctor Varela Instrumental Vals Tanda
Héctor Varela - Cielo y Luna 1961
Héctor Varela - Palomita blanca 1967
Héctor Varela - Valsecito Criolla 1955
Héctor Varela Instrumental Vals Tanda
The instrumental vals discography of Varela is quite small but large enough for a good few variations of a tanda. Here I chose Cielo y luna as the first song due to it's grand intro. The 1967 recording of Palomita blanca is very respectful of the golden era arrangements as is Valsecito Criolla from 1955 as well.
I find these valses great for moments when you want to play something with very clear sound, and some of that late 50s energy and classic arrangements of well known songs.
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