Tango

Tango

Contents

      Introduction

    • Origins
    • Players and Composers
    • Instruments

      Conclusion

Introduction

The Tango is a very passionate and expressive music type, which can also be quite sexual. Tango music can also accompany the tango dance. Both music and dance originate from Argentina using some of their classic instruments such as the accordion and bandoneon. Music will also include violins, double bass, piano, guitar and sound effects. In this project I will examine the origins, composers and players of tango and also how it is played and what it is played with.

Origins

It is thought that the first proper tango music was composed in Argentina in the mid 19th century. It was used by immigrants in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital, to express machismo and sexual desire. Even though the tango is a Latin American music genre, it is also very popular in Europe in places like France and Italy. In fact the first Tango ever recorded was made by Angel Villoldo and played by the French National Guard in Paris. Villoldo had to record in Paris because in Argentina at the time there was no recording studio. Tango was also later popular with thugs and gangsters because it made them feel better about what they were doing. The music was played using portable instruments such as the violin, flute, double bass, guitar and bandoneon. Originally tango was associated with the lower class society until the early 20th century when it was considered fashionable to listen and dance to the tango.

Players and Composers

Gerardo Rodríguez Sotelo (March 28, 1897 – April 25, 1948), also known as Becho, was a Uruguayan musician, composer and journalist. His best known work for the tango is La Cumparsita. It is perhaps the most famous and recognizable tango of all time. Carlos Gardel, a Uruguayan composer, contributed greatly to developing tango. He became a sex symbol in the 1920’s and was one of the best artists of his time. He helped...