TANGO MUSIC in Buenos Aires, Argentina

First tango?

I read some blog posts about the story of tango music. The following piece seems to be the first tango ever written that has survived the test of time. It is called “El Entrerriano” and was written in the 1890’s by a pianist called Rosendo Mendizabal,

“El choclo” First great tango!

Some years later, in 1905, a great tango was written by Angel Villoldo by one of the tango singers who accompanied himself with a guitar, and it is called “El choclo”

“he wrote El Choclo as a comedy song which he performed himself – choclo means literally corn-cob, but he was using it in a less literal and more bawdy sense. Villoldo’s words quickly fell out of use, and were replaced in the 1940s by a lyric proclaiming grandly that with this tango the Tango was born. “

The above quote is taken from this very complete post on the story of tango.

Tango as an expression of “tragic love”

Another tango, “Mi Noche triste” as sung by Carlos Gardel marked a turning point, tango appears to be more dramatic and focuses on tragic love as the backbone of argentine tango.

“Por una cabeza”

Another of Gardel’s “tragic love” style tangos is called “Por una cabeza”. It means “by just a head”, and it refers to betting money in a horse race! Here is a version by violinist Katica Illényi

One of the best known tangos!

“La cumparsita” is a very famous tango, it was adapted by Alberto Firpo from a march by Uruguayan Gerardo Mattos Rodriguez. Others later added the lyrics!

“Piazzola’s Tango Nuevo”

Piazzola learned classical music in Paris with Nadia Boulanger, here is one of Piazzola’s best known tangos, called “Adios Nonnino”, which means something like “goobye grandfather”

The best of tango is just dancing it!!

In my own experience, the tango is best enjoyed dancing! Tango music tends to be sad, but dancing tango with a great partner is a must do experience when coming to Buenos Aires, Argentina!

Simply hearing tango is just 50% of the tango experience! Take courage and enjoy! Tango dancing is like walking with a partner. The male partner proposes steps to the female partner, and she responds to his initiative. It is very romantic and a very pleasurable experience.

Here is the very well known “Taquito militar” tango danced by three couples at the same time!