A Brief Overview of Periods of Argentine Tango Music
Note to Introductory Students...
the Golden Age is a Good Place to Start!
Turn of the 19th – 20th Century
Some of the first “popular” tangos still performed today:
- Roberto Firpo (1884-1969), pianist & one of the first composers of tangos.
- Francisco Canaro (1888-1964), composer and bandleader
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Music suggestions for the
most elegant, passionate dance!
1920s: The New Generation & the Tango Song
This style is notable for an orchestral focus, moving away from simple combinations of just a few instruments. The focus is on a rich, danceable rhythm. The new media, radio and film, provided an arena for tango and tango artists to become “popular” figures in Latin America and beyond.
- Julio De Caro (1899- 1981 / violinist)
- Francisco De Caro (1898-1976 / pianist)
- Carlos Gardel (1890-1935 / singer)
1940s-50s: The “Golden Age”
Many composers featured a quick, confident solid tempo that was easy to follow for the new, middle-class enthusiasts of tango. The dance lost some of its unseemly reputation as an overly sensual, perhaps “low-class” style of music and dance, and gained more wide-spread popularity. This is typically a good place for people to start when learning to dance tango and learning to "listen" to the music to inspire their movement.
- Osvaldo Pugliese (pianist, composer)
- Anibal Troilo (1914-1975 / bandoneon)
- Juan D'Arienzo (1900-1976 / band leader)
- Miguel Calo (1907-1972 / band leader)
- Carlos Di Sarli (1900-1960 / pianist, composer-arranger)
- Francisco Fiorentino (1905-1955 / singer)
- Angel Vargas (1904-1959 / singer)
Beyond the Golden Age: New Traditions, New Cultural Interpretations
New composers of tango dance music today often incorporate other popular dance music into their pieces. Many contemporary dancers today enjoy using tango movements set to non-tango music, such as rock & roll, techno music, etc.
- Astor Piazzolla (1921 – 1992 / composer)
incorporates jazz and classical music. Much of his work is not intended for dancing, but rather for appreciation as a new classical medium for performance & audience enjoyment. - Gotan Project (band / La Revancha del Tango, 2003)
incorporates jazz and techno-dance music.
2003