Biografía / Paulina Fain

THE AUTHOR´S JOURNEY WITH THE FLUTE IN TANGO

-----

The heyday of the transverse flute in tango being limited to its early history back in the days of the “Guardia Vieja”, there have been no more references as to “how to play tango flute” during the genre’s evolution over the years.
In her training as a tango flute player Paulina came to adopt the way of articulating and saying of the various instruments of the orquesta típica (bandoneon, violins, piano and bass).
To transfer this manner of expression to the transverse flute she pursued her own explorations, developing a methodology whereby the flute can be played with the articulation needed to be able to participate in and evolve with tango as a genre.

The flute in tango book
As the result of these researches she wrote the book “The flute in tango”, published in March 2010 by Ricordi (Germany) in 4 languages. “The flute in tango” is the first of the 6 books that belong to the “Método de Tango” collection (with one book to every instrument of the orquesta típica). Paulina Fain is the collection´s director.

Teaching work
Part of Paulina’s teaching work consists of giving tango flute master-classes in Argentina and around the world. During her international tours she also gives a seminar called “Let´s play tango music! ” together with Exequiel Mantega in conservatories and musical institutions. This is open to all instruments and focuses on the fundamentals of the language of tango.
In Argentina she teaches tango flute in her Buenos Aires studio and once a month she teaches an intensive flute-tango workshop.

Studies and professional career
Paulina graduated in Tango Flute from the Escuela de Música Popular de Avellaneda (EMPA) in 1996. While at the institution she spent four years as first flute in the EMPA’s Tango Orchestra before graduating.
She has studied harmony, orchestration and composition with Rodolfo Mederos, Pedro Aguilar and Laura Baade, and flute with the maestro, Raul Del Castillo.

Since starting out as a professional musician she has pursued her own musical projects, performing concerts in Argentina and on the international stage.

Fain-Mantega Duo
She currently performs with pianist, Exequiel Mantega, in the Fain-Mantega Duo. The duo, which explores the limits of the tango genre and brings to it a new tone and role for the flute, has an intense schedule of concerts both at home and abroad.
The Fain-Mantega Duo has recorded two discs to date: + Tango (2006) and Secretos en reunión (2008).
With Exequiel Mantega she also composed the original music for the show Estación: Tango! (24 tangos, milongas and valses), which has been performed in Switzerland and Germany since 2007.
The duo’s site can be visited at www.fain-mantega.com.ar

El flauteto
She founded in 2009 with her flute partners “El flauteto”, wich is a flute quartet that propose a different sound from the usual one in typical flute quartets. The repertory takes a new character including E. Mantega and other latin-american contemporary composers, who had written compositions and arrangements specially for the quartet.
www.myspace.com/elflauteto

 

In the past she formed the groups Tango Desatado Quartet (2003-2005), the “Las Pibas” Tango Duo (1999-2003) and the Tangata Rea Quintet (1994-1999)