Thursday marked another important centenary, dear reader - that of the birth of Astor Piazzolla, "the world's foremost composer of Tango music"!
Born to Italian emigrants in Argentina, the family moved to New York, where young Astor developed his fascination for the music of his homeland. He began to learn the bandoneon (a South American variety of accordion) at the age of eight, and composed his first Tango when he was eleven years old.
His prodigious talents did not go unnoticed, and the world-renowned "King of Tango" Carlos Gardel even invited the then-teenager to join his orchestra on tour. It's fortutuous, indeed, that Astor's father forbade him to go as he was too young, for Gardel and his entire orchestra were killed in an air crash while on this very tour. As soon as he was able, however, young Astor moved back to Argentina, where he joined several orchestras before founding his own - and the rest is history!
With his talent for crossing the musical styles of Tango and Jazz with a more traditional classical repertoire, a style that became known as Nuevo Tango, in his seven-decade career he was lauded as the foremost proponent of Argentinian music, composing for several films, and winning numerous awards.
He was still performing in 1990 at the age of 75, before suffering a stroke that left him comatose until his death two years later.
As well as many orchestrated works, he left a cultural legacy in the world of popular music, too - and here are just a couple of examples:
[...a piece that was famously taken to a different level altogether by Miss Grace Jones!]
[...which was skilfully used by remixers Javier Garza and Pablo Flores in the dance version of Queen Madge's own paean to Piazzolla's homeland.]
Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla (11th March 1921 – 4th July 1992)
Darling Jon,
ReplyDeleteWell, very strange as it may sound, we have been to Uruguay on two occasions for Christmas which is, of course, the height of Summer there in the Southern Hemisphere. Whilst there, one could not help but be totally immersed in the Tango in general and Piazzolla's music in particular.
The Argentinians take Tango very seriously with Tango dances on every street at all hours of day and night. Bars and restaurants play Tango music non-stop and the theatres also have concerts where Tango music is often taken to new levels as it approaches Jazz.
So, your post made us smile and think of those hot Summer nights, along the Rambla which is a long promenade alongside the River Plate which is Montevideo's seaside....dancing the Tango, of course...
There are some who argue that the Tango was in fact invented in Uruguay rather than Argentina - regardless, one of the greatest Tango numbers of all was certainly written by a Uruguayan composer.
DeleteOf course, only Argentina has a national holiday to celebrate this marvellous musical genre - on the birthday of Carlos Gardel, no less. Jx
Darling Jon,
DeleteIn Uruguay, there is no doubt that it is the home of the Tango and the very place where it all began is given a monument to commemorate just that.
Yes, they are all mad about the Tango there and what is so lovely is to see people of all ages....children up to the elderly.....dancing in the streets.
P.S. We followed the link and so enjoyed listening.
DeleteP.P.S we were mugged on both occasions that we went to Uruguay. It is a wild country!
i had always assumed Ms Jones' song was original, how enlightening this joint is.
ReplyDeleteMiss Grace had a hand in writing the lyrics, that much is true, but the music was entirely Señor Piazzolla's... Jx
DeleteTo think that had had his father allowed him to go on that the world would have missed out on so much great music.
ReplyDeleteHe was a very lucky boy, indeed! Jx
DeleteOh, dear... Now I've come over all Strictly! Where's Aljaz when I need him??
ReplyDeleteI have never watched Strictly Come Dancing - I'm still holding out some hope that Auntie Beeb will one day show reruns of the original Come Dancing... Jx
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