Piazzolla - the composer who brought the pure, unadulterated passion that is tango to the sophisticated concert hall
It Takes Two To Tango
Tango music developed in the mid 19th century, shaped by the European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay. A style of music that originated from these peripheral societies, it became widely known and is highly celebrated in many parts of the world. The music is often in either 2/4 or 4/4 time, and is traditionally accompanied by intricate dances known for its passionate and romantic style. In the 20th century, different styles of tango emerged, some under the influence of other types of music.
One such form was Tango Nuevo, which saw the fusion of tango with jazz and classical. Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) was the man behind the shaping of this style – this composer was described by American music critic Stephen Holden as “the world’s foremost composer of tango music”. Born in Argentina, Piazzolla grew up listening to his father’s records of tango orchestras as well as classical and jazz music. Later on in his adolescence, he studied under Hungarian pianist Bela Wilda, disciple of Rachmaninov, who taught him much about counterpoint and Bach. These influences from childhood grew to shape the music he composed later on in his life. Originally playing the bandoneon, a type of concertina, he stopped pursuing it to dedicate himself to composing and studying music.
As a result of Piazzolla’s exploration and experimentation with the fusion of classical, jazz and tango, he fostered criticism and hatred amongst those of more conservative tango origins. In fact, the premier of his work “Buenos Aires” sparked fistfights, as certain members of the audience considered it offensive of Piazzolla to include the bandoneon into the “cult” setting of a symphonic orchestra. His music, although highly controversial in his homeland, is now widely recognized and performed all over the world, influencing both classical and tango music composers alike.
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Interested in listening to Piazzolla’s take on tango?
Piazzolla’s Fuga y Misterio will be featured during Touch, so do come down to our concert and enjoy (: