Piazzola

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992) Argentinian classical composer, whose love of the Argentinian Tango led him to destroy all his previous works and spend the rest of his life composing works with the Tango rhythm. He single-handedly brought the Tango out of its somewhat seedy and disreputable beginnings to become an unashamed part of any concert or recital program.

Whilst he wrote his music almost exclusively for single instruments (guitar, piano, flute) or small ensembles, usually with bandoneon (a type of piano accordion with buttons instead of keys), much of it has been arranged for large orchestra and is played in concert halls around the world; and whilst he still wrote pieces that are immediately recognizable, as Tangos, much of his later music requires a degree of classical virtuosity, and it is usually heard played by classical performers. - piano trios and the like. The classical 'cellist, Yo Yo Ma, and the violinist Gidon Kramer, both have recordings of his music. He is now considered part of the classical repertoire.

He may be unique in that he has written a musical history of his own music. His "History of the Tango" traces the rise of his music in four movements:

1. Bordello 1920
2. Cafe 1930
3. Nightclub 1960
4. Concert of Today