Tango music

Tango is a style of music that started in Uruguay and Argentina in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It grew from the cultures of many European immigrants, mixing Spanish, Italian, Gaucho, African, and French influences. Traditionally, tango is played using instruments like guitars, violins, a flute, piano, double bass, and special instruments called bandoneóns. Sometimes, a singer joins in to add to the music.

Tango music can be just for instruments, or it can include a singer. Over time, both the music and the dance connected with tango have become loved by people all around the world. The way the music feels makes tango special and exciting for many listeners.

Origins

Tango music started in the late 1800s and early 1900s in Argentina and Uruguay. It was made by people from Europe who moved there. It mixed African rhythms with music and instruments from Europe. Early tango was played on instruments like the flute, guitar, and violin. The bandoneón became popular later.

One of the first famous tango songs, "El Choclo", was recorded in 1906. Another well-known tango, "La Cumparsita", was made in 1916 by a young musician from Uruguay. Over time, tango became loved by many people around the world.

Argentine roots of tango

Tango music started in Argentina. It grew from local styles like Payada, Milonga, and Uruguayan candombe. These styles blended with music from Africa and Europe to form early tango.

Some of the first tangos were called "El Merenguengué." They were played with instruments such as violin, flute, and special drums. Well-known early tango musicians were Casimiro Alcorta and Eloísa D'Herbil. The first tango to have copyright was "El entrerriano" by Rosendo Mendizabal.

1920s and 1930s, Carlos Gardel

Tango became very popular in Europe, starting in France, thanks to artists like Enrique Saborido and Carlos Gardel. Carlos Gardel was a famous singer who helped tango reach new audiences, especially in the United States. During the 1920s, tango changed from being linked to lower-class areas to becoming a respected music and dance style. Bandleaders such as Roberto Firpo and Francisco Canaro changed the instruments used, adding a double bass instead of a flute.

Carlos Gardel helped make tango respected by middle-class people. He was one of the most popular tango artists and helped create a style called tango-canción. After his passing, tango split into different groups. Some artists, like Aníbal Troilo and Carlos di Sarli, wanted to change tango, while others, like Rodolfo Biagi and Juan d'Arienzo, preferred to keep it traditional.

Golden Age

The "Golden Age" of tango music and dance lasted from about 1935 to 1952. It was a time like the big band era in the United States. During this time, tango was played by large bands called orquestas típicas. These bands often had many musicians.

Some popular tango musicians were Mariano Mores, Juan d'Arienzo, Francisco Canaro, and Aníbal Troilo. D'Arienzo was known for his strong rhythm. Canaro’s slower songs were easy to dance to. Later, musicians like Osvaldo Pugliese and Carlos di Sarli made many recordings. Over time, European bands also played tango, using new instruments and singing in languages other than Spanish. Though tango stayed popular around the world, its fame grew smaller when rock-and-roll became popular in the 1950s and 1960s.

Main article: Big band
Main articles: Orquesta típica · Milonga

Tango nuevo

The later age of tango was shaped by Ástor Piazzolla, whose piece "Adiós nonino" became very important in tango music. In the 1950s, Piazzolla tried to create a more formal style of tango.

In the 1970s, Buenos Aires mixed jazz with tango. Groups like Litto Nebbia and Siglo XX became popular. Later musicians, such as Dino Saluzzi and Rodolfo Mederos, kept developing this new style, known as nuevo tango. They added jazz and classical elements.

1990s–2000s tango

In the late 1990s, new tango music started in Buenos Aires. It was inspired by older orchestra styles, not the modern changes made by Piazzolla. This style kept growing in the early 2000s. Many new bands made exciting tangos.

Some famous groups from this time are Orquesta Típica Fernandez Fierro, started by Julian Peralta. He later formed Astillero and Orquesta Típica Julián Peralta. Other important bands and artists include Orquesta Rascacielos, Altertango, Ciudad Baigón, and singer-songwriters like Alfredo "Tape" Rubín, Victoria di Raimondo, Juan Serén, Natalí de Vicenzo, and Pacha González.

Neotango

Tango music kept changing into the 21st century, creating something called neotango. This new style mixes tango with electronic music, adding sounds like samples and beats.

Groups such as Gotan Project, started in 1999 in Paris by Philippe Cohen Solal, Eduardo Makaroff, and Christoph H. Muller, combine tango with electronic music. Other examples are Bajofondo Tango Club and CDs like Tango?, Hybrid Tango, and Tangophobia Vol. 1. These fresh styles attract some dancers, while others still enjoy the traditional tango sound.

Musical impact and classical interpreters

Classically trained musicians have played tango music in concert halls and on recordings. Argentinian pianist Arminda Canteros played tangos on the radio in Rosario, Argentina. She used a male name because tango was often linked to traditional male culture. Later, she recorded an album called Tangos when she was 78 years old.

Other musicians like Cecilia Pillado and baritone Jorge Chaminé have also performed tango recitals. Famous classical performers such as Yo-Yo Ma, Martha Argerich, and Plácido Domingo have recorded tangos. Composers including Isaac Albéniz, Erik Satie, and Igor Stravinsky have written pieces inspired by tango. Today, many radio stations around the world still play tango music.

Main article: Tango